ABSTRACT
Social control theories seek to explain the patterns of delinquent behavior by identifying those social situations in which the ties are weakest and sanctions the least likely to be experienced subjectively by the youth. Various contributors to this field have focused on different aspects of control over individuals in society, and the circumstances under which the controls are ineffective (Glueck and Glueck, 1950; Hagan, Gillis, and Simpson, 1985; Hirschi, 1969; Matza, 1964; Nye, 1958).
