Over the years, researchers and experts have developed numerous theories to explain negative phenomena which occur in societies. The self-control theory of crime proposed by Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson seeks to utilize a general approach to the nature of all criminal acts. It is essential to possess an in-depth understanding of this theory to make a conclusion on its applicability.
According to the self-control theory, crimes or other negative events in the life of each individual stem from their inability to control their actions. Essentially, self-control constitutes a capacity to avoid acts which guarantee instant or near-term gratification but entail severe consequences (Gottfredson, 2017). The authors of the theory believe that the level of self-control varies among people, but it is ultimately influenced by various external factors such as the behavior of caregivers during the early stages of life. As a result, individuals who have a substantial degree of self-control tend to less often engage in criminal acts throughout their life. They also have a better chance to have a job with a high income and generally more successful in school. Numerous studies have produced strong evidence in support of this theory (Jennings & Reingle, 2019). In my view, the self-control theory is a viable approach to determining whether a person has an inclination towards criminal activity. Therefore, its main strengths are ease of implementation and effectiveness proved by extensive research. Yet, a significant weakness of this theory is its general nature. Namely, it views self-control as the only factor which leads to poor life decisions and ignores a variety of others, including peer pressure.
The theory of self-control claims that people with good command over their emotions and actions tend to be less likely to commit a crime. The primary advantages of this theory are the fact that it has been proven through studies and can be easily used by specialists. While the key shortcoming of the theory is its disregard for factors other than self-control.
References
Gottfredson, M. (2017). Self-control theory and crime. Criminology and Criminal Justice. Web.
Jennings, W.G., & Reingle, J.M. (2019). Criminological and criminal justice research methods. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.