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.
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]
Hirschi's Social Bond Theory proposes that individuals are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior if they have weak social bonds to society. The four elements of this theory are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
1. Attachment: This refers to the emotional connection an individual feels towards others, such as family, friends, and community. In the case of John, he lacks attachment to his grandmother and siblings. He does not care about their lives and comes home late, indicating a weak attachment to his family. This lack of emotional connection may contribute to his delinquent behavior.
2. Commitment: This element refers to the level of investment an individual has in conventional societal goals and values. John demonstrates a lack of commitment to school and education. He rarely attends classes and is not involved in any recreational activities. Instead, he chooses to spend time with other boys engaged in delinquent behavior. This lack of commitment to conventional goals may make John more susceptible to engaging in criminal activities.
3. Involvement: This element relates to the extent to which an individual is engaged in conventional activities and social institutions, such as school, work, or extracurricular activities. John is not actively involved in school or any other positive activities. Instead, he spends his time with peers who engage in vandalism, smoking, and drinking. This lack of involvement in prosocial activities leaves John with more opportunity and inclination to engage in delinquent behavior.
4. Belief: This element refers to an individual's acceptance and adherence to conventional social norms and values. John does not believe in respecting the rights of others or the laws of the country, as evidenced by his involvement in stealing and assaulting the security guard. His lack of belief in the importance of following societal rules and norms makes him more likely to engage in delinquent behavior.
Overall, John's weak social bonds to society, as shown by his lack of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in conventional values, contribute to his engagement in delinquent behavior such as stealing and assault.
Hirschi's Social Bond Theory is a theory that seeks to explain why people choose to conform to societal norms and engage in prosocial behavior. According to this theory, individuals are more likely to conform when they have strong bonds to society. The theory consists of four elements: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Let's apply each of these elements to the case study of John:
1. Attachment: Attachment refers to the emotional bond individuals have with others in society, specifically family members, friends, and peers. In John's case, his attachment to his family appears to be weak. He lives with his unemployed grandmother and does not seem to have a strong connection with his siblings. Furthermore, John's parents have rejected him, which further weakens his attachment to his family. Lack of attachment may make it easier for him to disconnect from societal norms and values.
2. Commitment: Commitment refers to an individual's investment in societal norms and goals. It includes having aspirations, plans for the future, and a sense of purpose. In John's case, he demonstrates a lack of commitment to societal goals. He is not committed to his education, rarely attends classes, and does not engage in any recreational activities that could contribute to his personal development. His lack of commitment potentially leads him to engage in negative behaviors, such as vandalizing buildings and causing trouble in the neighborhood.
3. Involvement: Involvement refers to an individual's active participation in conventional activities, such as school, work, or extracurricular activities. In John's case, he is not involved in any positive or constructive activities. Instead, he spends his time with other young boys who engage in delinquent behavior, such as smoking, drinking, and vandalizing. John's lack of involvement in prosocial activities may contribute to his engagement in criminal behavior.
4. Belief: Belief refers to an individual's acceptance and internalization of societal values, norms, and moral rules. In John's case, it is evident that he does not believe in respecting the rights of others or abiding by the laws of his country. This is demonstrated by his involvement in stealing and assaulting the security guard. John's lack of belief in societal norms makes him more susceptible to engaging in criminal behavior.
In conclusion, John's case demonstrates a lack of the four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory. He lacks attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, which may contribute to his engagement in delinquent and criminal behavior.
Hirschi's Social Bond Theory is a well-known theory in criminology that explains delinquent behavior in individuals. According to this theory, individuals are more likely to engage in criminal activities if they have weak social bonds or connections. The four elements of Hirschi's Social Bond Theory are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Let's apply each of these elements to the case study of John and explain them in detail:
1. Attachment: Attachment refers to the emotional bonds and connections an individual has with others. In the case of John, he lacks attachment and meaningful relationships with his family members. His parents have rejected him, and he does not care about his grandmother or siblings. This lack of attachment makes John more susceptible to engaging in delinquent behavior and seeking companionship with other troubled individuals.
2. Commitment: Commitment refers to an individual's belief in conformity and adherence to societal norms and values. John's lack of commitment is evident through his disinterest in attending school regularly, his involvement in vandalizing buildings, and his disregard for the rights of others. He does not believe in following the laws and rules of society, leading him to engage in criminal activities such as stealing and assaulting the security guard.
3. Involvement: Involvement refers to an individual's participation and engagement in legitimate activities and social institutions. John's lack of involvement is seen in his disinterest in school and recreational activities. Instead, he spends time with other troubled boys, engaging in destructive and illegal behaviors. John's lack of positive involvement leaves him susceptible to negative influences and engages him in delinquent activities.
4. Belief: Belief refers to an individual's moral values, ethics, and acceptance of societal norms. In John's case, his lack of belief in respecting the rights of others and the laws of the country is evident through his criminal behavior. He does not have a strong moral compass, and his involvement with other delinquent boys further reinforces his negative beliefs.
Overall, the absence of strong attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in John's life contributes to his engagement in delinquent activities. Building stronger social bonds and instilling positive values and beliefs in him can help redirect his behavior towards more constructive and law-abiding paths.