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.
In the case stud above, 'looking for the place in the world's.....Identity the four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory, apply it to the case study and provide explanation to each element
The four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
1. Attachment: In the case study, John does not display a strong attachment to his grandmother, siblings, or school. He does not care about what is happening in their lives and often comes home late. This lack of attachment can contribute to his disconnect with societal norms and values.
2. Commitment: John is not committed to his education or any recreational activities. He is not dedicated to attending school regularly or engaging in positive extracurricular activities. This lack of commitment leaves him with ample free time to spend with the boys in town who engage in destructive and illegal behaviors.
3. Involvement: John is deeply involved in negative activities with the young boys in town. He spends his time vandalizing buildings, smoking, drinking, and causing trouble in neighborhoods. This involvement in delinquent behavior further alienates him from positive influences and societal norms.
4. Belief: John does not believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country. This lack of belief in moral and legal standards is evident in his behavior, such as stealing a Bluetooth speaker and assaulting a security guard. John's disregard for societal norms indicates a lack of internalized moral beliefs.
Overall, the lack of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in socially acceptable values and behavior contributes to John's delinquent actions and disconnection from positive influences in his life.
Hirschi's Social Bond Theory suggests that individuals with strong bonds to society are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. The four elements of this theory are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Let's apply these elements to the case study of John:
1. Attachment: Attachment refers to the emotional bonds individuals have with significant others in their lives, such as family, friends, and teachers. In John's case, his attachment to his family seems to be weak. His parents have rejected him, and he does not seem to care about his grandmother or siblings. This lack of attachment may contribute to his disengagement from positive social norms and values.
2. Commitment: Commitment refers to the investment individuals have in conforming to societal standards. In John's case, he is not committed to school and rarely attends classes. He is also not involved in any recreational activities, indicating a lack of commitment to productive pursuits. Instead, he chooses to spend time with boys who engage in destructive and illegal activities. This lack of commitment to constructive goals may lead him to engage in delinquent behavior.
3. Involvement: Involvement refers to the participation of individuals in conventional activities such as school, work, or organized sports. In John's case, he lacks involvement in school and recreational activities. Instead, he engages in destructive behavior with his peers. This lack of involvement further distances him from pro-social activities and increases the likelihood of engaging in delinquency.
4. Belief: Belief refers to an individual's acceptance and internalization of societal values and norms. In John's case, he does not seem to believe in respecting the rights of others or following the laws of the country. This is evident from his involvement in stealing and assaulting the security guard at the shop. His lack of belief in societal rules may contribute to his engagement in delinquent acts.
In conclusion, John's case study reflects a weak social bond to society. His lack of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in societal norms may contribute to his engagement in delinquent behavior, such as stealing and violence.
In the given case study, we can identify the four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory and apply them to John's situation.
1. Attachment: Attachment refers to the individual's emotional connection with significant others, such as family, friends, or mentors. In John's case, he does not seem to have a strong attachment to his family. His parents have rejected him, and he does not care about what goes on in his grandmother's or siblings' lives. This lack of attachment may contribute to his disengagement from positive influences and his preference for spending time with peers who engage in negative behaviors.
2. Commitment: Commitment refers to an individual's personal investment in conventional societal goals, such as education or career. In this case study, John is not committed to school and rarely attends classes. He is not involved in any recreational activities or engaged in any positive future-oriented goals. Instead, he finds enjoyment in engaging in delinquent activities with other boys in the town. This lack of commitment makes him more susceptible to engaging in antisocial behaviors.
3. Involvement: Involvement refers to the individual's participation in conventional activities that occupy time and energy, thus reducing the likelihood of engaging in deviant behavior. In John's case, he is not involved in any positive activities or hobbies. Instead, he spends his time with peers who engage in destructive behaviors like vandalizing buildings, smoking, drinking, and causing trouble in the neighborhood. This lack of involvement in constructive activities further increases his vulnerability to delinquency.
4. Belief: Belief refers to an individual's acceptance and internalization of societal norms, values, and moral codes. In John's case, he does not believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country. This is evident from his involvement in theft (stealing a Bluetooth speaker) and assault (assaulting the security guard). John's lack of belief in the importance of societal norms contributes to his delinquent behavior.
Explanation: Hirschi's Social Bond Theory suggests that individuals who have strong social bonds and attachments to conventional society (family, friends, and community), are committed to conventional goals, are involved in positive activities, and hold beliefs aligned with societal norms are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. In John's case, he lacks these elements of social bonds, which makes him more susceptible to engaging in delinquent activities.