Responses
1. The assumptions of control theories vary from the theories we previously discussed in the book. The control theory is the belief that an individual has full control over what they say and do. If a person has strong social bonds in their society, they are less likely to become delinquent to commit a crime. If a person has a lower social bond in their society, they are more likely to commit a crime and continue to commit other criminal acts. As we read in our previous modules individuals are drawn to things that are interesting to them and sometimes crime is considered to be interesting and fun to individuals. Yet, no motivation is needed to commit a crime as Hirschi described in our readings (Lily, et, al, 2019). The strain theory is the belief that crimes are committed naturally, and individuals conform to crimes based on a society strain that makes them feel they should. Differential association theory is what Sutherland belief describes as crime being a learned behavior based on how a person is raised or the environment they are from or in. All these theories are different and explained Indepth to show how different the control theory is. All of these theories and assumptions greatly influence our responses to crimes because each theory is different, and all the theories help us to think about crimes based on the understanding of each theory as well as our beliefs about what influences or may cause crimes to occur.Different types of coercion can most definitely affect the way a person thinks and feels overall. It may be coercion that is social, psychological, direct, indirect, and many types or forms. Differential coercion can affect the way a person thinks, feels, talks, responds, and treats others. Imagine how many crimes and actions occur due to coercion, threats, desperation, and even fear. Our current criminal justice system is greatly troubled by these actions each and every day. Our current system needs to be more effective to stop these types of acts and to help individuals that are treated by them daily.
2.
Control theories juxtapose with previously discussed theories in the textbook in rejecting the notion that people are inherently moral or neutral. Merton’s Strain Theory and Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory spotlight how societal pressures or learned behavior can cause crime. Contrarily, Hirschi suggests that people are inherently self-interested and therefore prone to deviant behavior unless properly restrained by social or personal controls.
This change holistically covers the shift in belief that criminal behavior is a result of a lack of internal restraints and not external motivations. Consequently, policy responses to these theories have expressed this by incorporating programs like early childhood intervention, school involvement, and mentoring in an effort to promote learned self-control. This is a stark shift from attributing all criminal behavior to poverty or deviant subculture and instead investing in mitigation through things like parental training and community integration. The shift can be summarized as changing course from a punitive or rehabilitative lens to more of a prevention/ early intervention one.
Colvin’s Differential Coercion Theory suggests that environments prone to inconsistency and coercive behaviors (both interpersonal and impersonal) produce chronic criminal behavior. This theory proposes that individuals exposed to these environments perceive aggression and manipulation as legitimate means/responses to control.
When this is applied to the modern/current criminal justice system, it reveals some vital flaws. Issues such as over-policing, punitive prison systems, and a lack of genuine support toward rehabilitation all perpetuate erratic/coercive environments.
Current prison systems reinforce/enable coercive behaviors, leading to a minimal rehabilitative impact on individuals in the system, suggesting a potential explanation for the current high levels of recidivism. Differential Coercion Theory deems such systems as the current punitive prison systems, non-conducive to reducing long-term criminality.
The current system would need to implement consistent, supportive, and prosocial environments that emphasize education, therapy, and family stability to effectively address coercion and crime. This would effectively disrupt the existing ineffective system and replace it with one more conducive to effective rehabilitation that promotes continued positive shaping in the civilian world.
