Evaluate the Self-Control Theory of Crime

Running head : SELF-CONTROL THEORY OF CRIME

Self-Control Theory of Crime

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Abstract

One of the biggest criticisms of the self-control crime theory is that it puts excessive load of crime responsibility onto parents (especially single parents , and decreases the role of objective attributes (race gender , social conditions ) in motivating crime . However , it seems that such criticisms lack objectivity , although they deserve attention and are reasonably grounded

Self-Control Theory of Crime

Introduction

The self-control crime theory is often viewed as the

means of putting excessive responsibility on parents for the crimes of their children However , these criticisms are often exaggerated low self-control theory cannot serve a single justification for the delinquency problems . Recent statistics will prove the relevance of other important factors in crime and delinquency

Classical theories of crime are concentrated on various attributes of criminals , and view these attributes as the causes of crime and delinquency . Classic theory explains crime in terms of social location , social bonds , or subculture membership and emphasizes the deterrents for crime as the major determinant (Gottfredson Hirschi 1990 . The self-control theory of crime initially views criminal behavior from a different perspective . Social factors are pushed to the background , while the inner personality motives to commit crimes become crucial . In to understand whether the discussed criticism is relevant in terms of self-control theory , it will be useful to view the theory through the prism of its separate elements

First , the self-control theory of crime is directly linked to the human inability to delay gratification (Belliston , 2004 . This means , that people with low self-control are characterized by the desire to have everything here and now , and these desires motivate the person at committing the crime . In this aspect , it is easy to criticize parents (especially , single parents ) in that they are not capable of bringing up their children in accordance with the social standards . However , this criticism becomes irrelevant when the statistics is analyzed . The assumption that single parents solely contribute into the development of the low self-control is wrong . On the contrary , studies have shown repeatedly a consistent relationship between juvenile delinquency and large family size , marital disharmony , alcohol abuse in parents and overall social deprivation (Belliston , 2004 . The number of delinquency acts in New York has decreased for an eighth since 1999 (Higgins , 2006 , and this decrease is not caused by the constant decrease of single families , as one could expect . These tendencies and the motives of juvenile crimes and delinquency do not upon family relations , but are also linked to external social conditions , in which delinquent criminals exist

Second , crime is a situation which represents easy or simple desire gratification (Gottfredson Hirschi , 1990 . This means that the reasons of crime and delinquency lay much deeper , than critics assume The intensity of juvenile crimes directly depends on the social economic , and cultural factors . Numerous researches have shown that the number of juvenile crimes increase during the periods of economic declines and social instability (Belliston , 2004 Gottfredson Hirschi...