ABSTRACT
Control theories are the second major sociological explanations of deviant behavior. Control theories suggest that crime and deviant behavior happen due to a lack of social controls in our lives. However, control theorists also approach the study of crime and deviance in a different manner; they ask, “why do individuals conform”, as opposed to “why do individuals offend” as most other theorists ask. In this way, control theorists argue that there is nothing specific in society that motivates an individual to offend, rather it is the society’s controls over their lives that cause individuals to conform. Due to this focus on social controls, control theorists are interested in both formal and informal methods of control (e.g., the police and law, as well as parental and school discipline). Further, control theorists are focused on how social controls are weakened or loosened in our lives. This chapter covers the creation of social controls (Gusfield) and how social controls can be strengthened or weakened (Hirschi; Sykes and Matza; Cohen).
