Social Control and Strain Theory in Criminology Explained
This paper compares two prominent criminological theories — social control theory and social strain theory — examining how each operates at multiple levels of analysis to explain criminal behavior. Drawing on foundational works by Travis Hirschi and Robert Merton, the paper explores how connections to deviant groups and the disconnect between societal goals and available means each contribute to criminality. The paper then applies both theories to a real-world case: a former gang member in Harlem who became a violence interrupter. The analysis demonstrates how social strain theory explains entry into criminal life, while social control theory illuminates both the causes of crime and the mechanisms behind community-based rehabilitation efforts.
- Introduction to Criminological Theory: Overview of how criminological theories build on one another
- Social Control Theory and Its Foundations: Hirschi's theory linking group attachment to law-abiding behavior
- Social Strain Theory and Socioeconomic Factors: Merton's model connecting social position to criminal response
- Comparing the Two Theories: Contrasting how each theory explains criminal disconnection
- Applying Theory to a Real-World Case: Hammond's story analyzed through both theoretical lenses
- Conclusion: Disconnection as the shared core of both theories
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What makes this paper effective
- It clearly grounds each theory in its original source before applying it, giving the reader a solid conceptual foundation before moving to analysis.
- The application section is concrete and well-chosen — the Hammond case study provides specific textual evidence that maps directly onto the theoretical concepts being discussed.
- The paper draws a nuanced parallel between the two theories, noting that despite their differences both center on the idea of "disconnection" as a driver of criminal behavior.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective comparative theoretical analysis. Rather than treating each theory in isolation, the author identifies a unifying theme — disconnection — and uses it as a lens to both contrast and synthesize social control theory and social strain theory. This technique shows how competing frameworks can be evaluated against each other on shared conceptual ground.
Structure breakdown
The paper is divided into two main parts. The first compares social control theory and social strain theory at a conceptual level, tracing their intellectual lineage and areas of overlap and divergence. The second part applies both theories to a specific New York Times article about a reformed gang member, using direct quotations from the article as evidence. The conclusion briefly synthesizes both sections by returning to the theme of disconnection as the common thread between the two theories.
Introduction to Criminological Theory
One of the most meaningful observations made about criminological theories is that "each theory says something new and/or different about crime. For a theory to make its mark on criminology… it must make a point that other theories have not made previously. Again, theories tend to build upon one another and thus typically are not completely novel. Still, each theory tries to carve out its own special niche — to make the case that previous works were mistaken, omitted a key cause of crime, and/or can be interpreted in a new way" (Cullen & Agnew, 2010).
Two theories that exemplify this dynamic are social control theory and social strain theory. Both operate at multiple levels of analysis and offer distinct, though sometimes overlapping, explanations for why individuals engage in criminal behavior. Examining them side by side reveals both the richness of criminological thought and the practical value of applying theory to real-world cases.
Social Control Theory and Its Foundations
One prominent theory is social control theory, which operates at multiple levels of analysis. The criminologist Travis Hirschi developed social control theory in 1969, and it is considered a variant of subcultural theory (Lynch, 2000). "While social-structural or strain theories assume that people share similar values and differ only with respect to access to resources, subcultural theories assume that certain groups have values quite distinct from those of the rest of society" (Lynch, 2000). What makes these values so influential is that they can be incredibly enduring and powerful. Thus, if a particular social group values warfare and sees violence as honorable, that group is likely to have a higher rate of crime. Within subcultural theory, crime does not occur because people are socialized improperly, but because they have been socialized within deviant groups — the acquisition of values is of primary importance (Lynch, 2000).
Social control theory is distinct from many theories that came before it because it focuses on law-abiding citizens, attempting to determine why these individuals do not commit crimes rather than focusing on criminals themselves (Lynch, 2000). The theory is founded on the notion that all people are predisposed toward criminal behavior, and whether or not an individual engages in such behavior is largely connected to the ties that individual has to particular groups in society — family, school, and community groups (Lynch, 2000). "People with such attachments initially hold certain values because they fear sanction from these groups. Gradually, however, the values are internalized and followed because of a belief that to do otherwise would be morally wrong" (Lynch, 2000). It is the people who lack these connections who generally become criminals, as they are the ones who fail to internalize legitimate social norms.
References
Cullen, F. T., & Agnew, R. (2010). Criminological theory: Past to present. New York.
Gregory, K. (2013, April 24). From terrorizing streets to making them safer. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/nyregion/harlem-man-tells-of-escape-from-a-violent-life.html?ref=crimeandcriminals&_r=0
Lynch, J. P. (2000). Criminology. Retrieved from https://autocww2.colorado.edu/~toldy3/E64ContentFiles/LawAndCourts/Criminology.html
Raphael, S. (2004, March). The socioeconomic status of black males: The increasing importance of incarceration. Retrieved from
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