1.1.
Hirschi's Social Bond theory, also known as Social Control theory, suggests that people's behavior is influenced by the strength of their social bonds or relationships with others. According to this theory, individuals are less likely to engage in deviant or criminal behavior when they have strong bonds to society.
1.2.
The four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond theory are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
- Attachment: In the case study, John lacks attachment to his family and does not care about the well-being of his grandmother and siblings. This lack of attachment makes him more susceptible to engaging in deviant behavior.
- Commitment: John does not have a strong commitment to school. He rarely attends classes and does not participate in any recreational activities. This lack of commitment makes him more likely to engage in negative behaviors as he does not have a sense of purpose or responsibility.
- Involvement: Instead of being involved in positive activities, John spends time with other boys who engage in deviant behavior such as vandalizing buildings, smoking, drinking, and causing trouble in the neighborhood. This involvement with negative peer groups further reinforces his deviant behavior.
- Belief: John does not believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country. This lack of belief in social norms and values contributes to his criminal acts of stealing and assaulting.
Overall, the absence of strong social bonds, including attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, contributes to John's engagement in deviant behavior and his disregard for societal rules and norms.
Section A:
1.
Read through the case study below and answer all of the questions:
1.1.
Provide an explanation of Hirschi’s Social Bond theory [2]
1.2.
In the case study above, ‘Looking for a place in the world…’, identify the four elements of ‘Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory’, apply it to the case study and provide an explanation of each of the elements [12]
SUBTOTAL: 14 MARKS
Looking for a place in the world…
John is a 14-year-old boy who lives in Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape. He lives at his unemployed grandmother’s house with his three younger sisters and two older brothers. They survive off of his grandmother’s pension grant. John does not really care about what goes on in his grandmother or siblings lives and he comes home late.
John’s parents are divorced and both of them rejected him completely. Although John is enrolled in the local primary school, he is not committed to school, he rarely attends classes and he is not involved in any recreational activities. He rather enjoys spending time with the young boys in town who goes about vandalising buildings, smoking, drinking and causing trouble in neighbourhoods.
John does not really believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country, and thus John has been arrested for stealing a Bluetooth speaker at OK Furnishers and assaulting the security guard of the shop.
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