CONTROL THEORY- LAUREN ROSE

Control TheoryLauren Rose

Governors State University11/30/13

What Is Control Theory?

Criminological theory that correlates the lack of an individual’s self control as a key factor in criminal behavior.

Attempts to answer the question, why don’t more people commit crimes?

describes that if allowed, people would seek out the greatest pleasure or reward at all times, but limits created by society stop most from acting out this behavior.

Connects low levels of self-control with criminal and impulsive conduct.

Believes there is a direct correlation of behavior with the influences of school, family life, environment and morals.

Self Control

The theory states that people with high self esteem are less likely to commit crime, and people with low self esteem are more likely to commit crime.

Pleasure Principle

Theory originally refereed to the desire for immediate gratification by people & the pleasure principle.

The pleasure principle drives a person to look for pleasurable situations and avoid painful ones.

Emile Durkheim

“We are moral beings to the extent that we are social beings”

His theory describes that crimes serves as the function of distinguishing boundaries for behavior.

Believes behaviors are directly connected to how society tells people to act

We conform to these behaviors because we have self control and want to be accepted by society.

from the mind of..

1938

Gresham Sykes and David Matza

From the original control theory, criminologists Sykes and Matza outlined 5 specific techniques of neutralization.

This theory describes 5 types of excuses used by deviants.

Criminals know they are doing something wrong, but use these techniques to justify their lack of self control.

NeutralizationDenial of responsibility -the offender will propose that they were victims of circumstance or were forced into situations beyond their control

Denial of injury- the offender insists that their actions did not cause any harm or damage

Denial of the victim the offender believes that the victim deserved whatever action the offender committed

Condemnation of the condemners- the offenders maintain that those who condemn their offense are doing so purely out of spite, or are shifting the blame off of themselves unfairly

Appeal to higher loyalties- the offender suggests that his or her offense was for the greater good, with long term consequences that would justify their actions, such as protection of a friend

“It wasn’t my fault!”

“They can afford the loss!”

“They had it coming!”

“You would have done the same thing!”

“My friend needed me, I had to do it!”

References:

Durkheim, Emile. 1938. Rules of the sociological method. Translated by Sarah A. Solovay and John

H. Mueller. Edited by George E. G. Catlin. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (2011). Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences Fifth Edition. Washington D. C: Sage Publications.

Sykes, Gresham and Matza, David.  (1957). Techniques of Neutralization: A Theory of Delinquency.  American Sociological Review. 22(6). 664-670