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.
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.
1.1 Explanation of Hirschi's Social Bond theory:
Hirschi's Social Bond theory suggests that individuals are less likely to engage in deviant behavior if they have strong social bonds to society. This theory asserts that four elements contribute to the formation of social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
1.2 Application of Hirschi's Social Bond theory to the case study and explanation of each element:
1. Attachment: In the case study, John lacks attachment to his family members as he does not care about their lives. The absence of a strong attachment to his family may result in a weaker bond to society.
2. Commitment: John is not committed to his school, as he rarely attends classes and shows no involvement in recreational activities. This lack of commitment to educational activities could weaken John's bond to society and increase his likelihood of engaging in deviant behavior.
3. Involvement: Instead of engaging in positive recreational activities, John spends time with young boys who engage in destructive behavior like vandalizing buildings and causing trouble. This involvement in delinquent activities further weakens his bond to society.
4. Belief: John does not believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country. His lack of belief in societal norms and values undermines his bond to society and can lead to deviant behavior, as evidenced by his arrest for stealing and assaulting a security guard.
Overall, John's case demonstrates a weak social bond according to Hirschi's theory. His lack of attachment, commitment, involvement in positive activities, and belief in societal norms all contribute to his inclination towards deviant behavior.
To answer the questions in section A, we need to refer to Hirschi's Social Bond theory and identify the four elements of the theory in the given case study. Let's start by explaining Hirschi's Social Bond theory.
1.1. Explanation of Hirschi's Social Bond theory:
Hirschi's Social Bond theory suggests that the strength of social bonds or attachments between individuals and society influence their tendency to engage in delinquent or criminal behavior. According to this theory, individuals with strong social bonds are less likely to engage in deviant activities, while those with weak social bonds are more prone to engage in such behaviors.
Hirschi proposed four elements or components of social bonds that influence an individual's adherence to social norms. These elements are:
1.2. Application of Hirschi's Social Bond theory to the case study:
Now let's apply Hirschi's Social Bond theory to the given case study and explain each of the four elements in relation to John's behavior.
1. Attachment:
Attachment refers to the emotional connection or bond individuals have with others. In John's case, it is evident that he has a weak attachment to his family. His parents have rejected him, and he does not seem to care about his grandmother or siblings. This lack of attachment contributes to his disengagement from family responsibilities and increases his inclination towards engaging in delinquent activities with other boys in the town.
2. Commitment:
Commitment refers to the level of personal investment an individual has in conventional activities, such as school or work. In the case study, John is not committed to school. He rarely attends classes and does not participate in any recreational activities. This lack of commitment to education increases his free time and exposes him to influences that promote delinquent behavior.
3. Involvement:
Involvement refers to the participation in legitimate social activities. John's lack of involvement in any recreational activities or community programs leaves him with idle time, which he spends with other boys engaging in vandalizing buildings, smoking, drinking, and causing trouble. This lack of involvement in positive activities increases his chances of engaging in delinquency.
4. Belief:
Belief refers to an individual's acceptance and endorsement of social norms and values. In John's case, he does not seem to believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country. This lack of belief in societal norms contributes to his engagement in criminal activities, such as stealing a Bluetooth speaker and assaulting a security guard.
By analyzing the case study through the lens of Hirschi's Social Bond theory, we can understand the factors contributing to John's delinquent behavior. His weak attachment to family, lack of commitment to school, absence of involvement in positive activities, and disbelief in social norms create a conducive environment for his engagement in deviant behavior.
By addressing these elements of social bonds, interventions can be designed to help John develop stronger attachments, increase his commitment to education, involve him in positive activities, and enhance his belief in societal norms. This may reduce his engagement in delinquent behaviors, improving his overall social functioning.