Applying Sociological Theory to Punishment

Understanding the punishment regime and experiences within it can be quite difficult task, yet but using sociology as a viewpoint, we can better formulate a greater understanding of the institution and our society. A sociological concept associated with the restoration of the American punishment regime is the Social Control Theory. The first form of Social Control theory that records can find was created by Sociologist Albert J. Reiss. However, the most common form of the Social Control Theory was founded by Travis Hirschi. Hirschi defines Social Control Theory in his book titled Causes of Delinquency, by stating that the “social control theory proposes that delinquents fail to form or maintain a bond to society consisting of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief”. Hirschi wants to know not why people commit crimes, but why people conform to law abiding citizens. Hirschi states that if a delinquent has positive role model of whom they become attached to then that person will not go out and commit any more crimes. However, when this role model is taken away that some person is more likely to go out and commit crimes because he has nothing keeping him on the track.

Hirschi breaks the Social Control theory down into four main parts, Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, and Belief. When one is attached, committed, Involved, or has strong beliefs in something that person is less likely to go out and commit crime. When one participates in positive and convention activities that lead to socially accepted goals then one is on the “right track”. An example of this would be a positive role model such as a strong and moral father whom one is attached too. If that father provides a positive role model for their child to look up to then that kid is less likely to go out and commit crime out of fear of letting his father down. Social Control can also be a useful tool for reintegrating prisoners back into society. If that convict gets out of prison and has some type of attachment, commitment, involvement, or strong moral belief then they are less likely to end up back in prison.