ABSTRACT
Earlier control theories with a similar emphasis on barriers rather than motivation were proposed by Reiss, Toby, Nye, and Briar and Piliavin. In more recent years a different type of control theory has been proposed, drawing on Marxist and neo-Marxist traditions and terminology. In sum, power-control theory generates hypotheses about race and class that are negated by most theory and research. The absence of control has been central to social control theories of delinquency for close to four decades. By identifying the unique characteristics of power-control theory in comparison to other theories, especially social-control theory, the people have attempted a preliminary assessment of the theory based on prior research and research on common delinquency conducted by power-control theorists. It is completely possible that contrary theories survive and are repeatedly resurrected because the proposed mechanisms are real but countered by contrary processes that are equally real.
