Social Control Theory Research Articles

How boundary spanners wield influence by involving a third person: an exploratory study grounded in social control theory

PurposePower is one of the single most critical concepts for understanding industrial relations management. Yet, despite having been subject to much scholarly attention, existing research often implicitly assumes an organizational level of behavior or examines influence tactics within the confines of an individual-level dyad. This has led to a limited understanding of influence exercises involving a third person. Motivated to advance the understanding of this phenomenon, this study aims to explore how boundary spanners from a buying organization influence supplier representatives by involving a third person.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a longitudinal single case study design grounded in social control theory. Data consist of interviews, observations and documents collected over a period of 27 months in a global sourcing context.FindingsThe findings demonstrate how the influence agent from the buying organization can invoke a third person’s mediated and nonmediated social power base through either direct or indirect social control mechanisms. With these findings, this paper makes a novel theoretical contribution by developing a deeper understanding of underexposed social influence tactics unfolding in individual-level triads.Practical implicationsThis study offers boundary spanning managers with practical insights into subtle and indirect forms of social influence with which they can influence external exchange partners.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to draw on social control theory to examine interpersonal influence tactics in buyer-supplier relationships. By integrating this theoretical perspective with extant research on social power, this study emphasizes the importance of considering how the influence agent mobilizes a third person’s social influence base.

Childhood maltreatment and adolescent cyberbullying perpetration: Roles of individual relative deprivation and deviant peer affiliation

Guided by the general aggression model, relative deprivation theory, social control theory, and self-determination theory, the current study aims to explore the relation between childhood maltreatment and cyerbullying perpetration using a multiple mediation model, that includes individual relative deprivation and deviant peer affiliation as mediating variables. In November 2019, a sample of 1976 Chinese adolescent students attending 7th, 8th, and 10th grades (49.40% males; 8.80% only children; 32.30% middle school students; 32.10% urban students; Mage = 14.43 years, SD = 1.14) responded to questionnaires regarding demographics, childhood maltreatment, individual relative deprivation, deviant peer affiliation, as well as cyberbullying perpetration. Results showed that: (a) after controlling for relevant demographic variables, childhood maltreatment was significantly and positively related to adolescent cyberbullying perpetration; (b) both individual relative deprivation and deviant peer affiliation partially mediated the relation between childhood maltreatment and cyberbullying perpetration in a parallel fashion; and (c) individual relative deprivation and deviant peer affiliation also mediated the relation between childhood maltreatment and cyberbullying perpetration in a sequential fashion. In sum, childhood maltreatment is positively related to adolescent cyberbullying perpetration, and the relation is mediated by individual relative deprivation and deviant peer affiliation both parallelly and sequentially. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how childhood maltreatment is related to adolescent cyberbullying perpetration, which has important implications for the prevention and intervention of adolescent cyberbullying perpetration.

Early Marriage in Natuna Regency, Riau Archipelago Province in the Perspective of Legal Sociology

This research study aims to analyze the reasons for the increasing number of cases of early marriage in Natuna using social control theory, the impact that will arise as a result of early marriage and the efforts that can be made to control early marriage in Natuna. The research method used in this study is a literature study which is carried out by examining sources obtained from books, journals, as well as sources generated from internet news or using secondary data. It was found that the high rate of early marriage in Natuna was caused by a lack of parental control over children so that children carried out negative behaviors, namely getting pregnant out of wedlock. In the case of early marriages in Natuna, socialization has been carried out in schools but there is still an increase in early marriages in Natuna due to arranged marriages by parents, economy and socio-culture. Then the research obstacle was due to the method of writing a literature study, it was very difficult to add interviews and more recent information from local residents.

Fear, learning, or self-control? Predictors of Russian citizens’ compliance with mandatory and voluntary Covid-19 prevention measures

In this article, we examine citizens’ willingness to comply with Covid-19 prevention strategies of mandatory mask-wearing and recommended social distance/contact limitation measures from competing theoretical perspectives. These include self-control, deterrence, learning, social control theories, and fear of the infection. Data for the study come from 508 respondents from St. Petersburg—Russia’s second largest city—in May 2020, when the Covid-19 regional legislation that mandated citizens to wear masks in public went into effect. Overall, our findings suggest mixed support for various theoretical perspectives. Among the variables included in the analysis, fear of the infection is positively related to compliance with both mandated and recommended measures. Fear of Covid-19 infection, fear of punishment, and fear of disapproval on behalf of significant others that would follow non-compliance appear to be strong predictors of law-abiding behavior. Learning and self-control theories explain compliance with non-mandatory measures, but not with mask-wearing, which carried a penalty for violating the mandate.

What's race got to do with it? Factors contributing to self-change from cocaine use disorder among Black adults

IntroductionA substantial number of people with substance use disorders recover without formal treatment, though we know little about the process of self-change among Black adults with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and whether racism contributes to the development of CUD and these adults' process of self-change. MethodsThe study team conducted qualitative interviews with 29 Black adults using a narrative and phenomenological approach. At the time of the interview, all participants met criteria for DSM-5 CUD prior to the past year but did not meet criteria for CUD in the past year and reported that they reduced their cocaine use without formal treatment. Participants completed a qualitative interview followed by the UConn Racial/Ethnic Stress & Trauma Survey. Thematic analyses informed key themes from the qualitative interviews. ResultsQualitative analyses indicated several major factors that contributed to self-change from CUD: racial identity, responsibility to family, social regard, spirituality, turning point for change, and changing one's environment. These results highlight that self-change from CUD is a complex, ongoing, and multifaceted process. The identified themes align with several theories of recovery, including social control theory and the theory of stress and coping. Furthermore, the results suggest that experiences of racism are common among Black adults recovering from CUD, and that the multiple strategies employed for coping with racism may be consistent with the process of self-change. ConclusionsThis study shows that multiple race-related factors contribute to the development of, maintenance of, and self-change from CUD among Black adults. Better understanding these factors can help to inform drug treatment.

Strategies used by Students to Cope with Mental Health Issues in Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya.

Mental health issues are becoming increasingly common among students worldwide, Kenya has not been spared. Studies have shown that approximately 20% of school students are now affected by diagnosable mental illnesses, with half of all mental issues developing by 14 years.It is further indicated that mental health problems are the leading cause of behavioral adjustment difficulties among adolescents in schools. A survey carried out in Kisii County in the year 2017, and published in the East African Medical Journal showed that 23% of the students had symptoms of depression. Despite this not much had been done to establish the coping strategies students use to manage their mental health issues. The objective of this study therefore was to establish the strategies used by students to cope with mental health issues in secondary schools in Kisii County, Kenya. The study was based on Social Control Theory by Ivan Nye (1958), which emphasizes the importance of the learning environment. When the learning environment is not conducive it will trigger mental health issues. Descriptive survey research design was used. The target population was 30,955 form two students. Yamane’s formula was employed to determine the sample size of 395 students. A questionnaire was used to collect data. A pilot study was carried out among 40 students using test- retest method of reliability. Reliability coefficient index of the instruments was determined at .78. Face and content validity of the instruments were ascertained by experts. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of frequencies and percentages. Findings indicated that the key strategy students use to address their mental health issues is reaching out to parents (89.1%), followed by seeing teachers for advice/help (86.8%), and distancing oneself from friends as well as reading the word of God/ praying (77.2%), avoiding assignments that are difficult (67.3%). The least strategy used by students was seeing the school counsellor (19.2%). It was concluded that students mostly prefer seeing parents. The study therefore recommends that schools should engage parents when dealing with students` mental health issues. The study further recommends that there is need for the schools and the ministry to establish why students avoid seeing school counselors for their mental health issues yet they are the professionals trained in handling students` issues. This finding is useful to the school managers and the Ministry of Education in shedding light on the importance of engaging parents in handling students` mental health issues.

Female migrant workers' attitudes toward premarital sex in Binh Duong Province

Premarital sex is one of the issues that female migrant workers currently face in Vietnam. This increases the risk of sexual and reproductive health issues among this vulnerable group. The article's goal is to comprehend and explain the attitude of female migrant workers regarding premarital sex while also analyzing the factors that influence their attitudes toward this issue. The theories of social control and migration are the foundation for this objective. The combined approach used in this paper collected quantitative data from 420 female migrant workers and qualitative data from seven female migrant workers who participated in in-depth interviews. According to research findings, female migrant workers are considerably more agreeable to premarital sex if both are voluntary, but they do not feel ready to discuss premarital sex with those around them. The level of education and length of residence in Binh Duong are factors that affect how female migrant workers feel about the premarital sex concern. In order to enhance their autonomy and reduce risky sexual behaviors, we can thus propose that female migrant workers, especially those with a residence length of more than five years, should have greater reproductive health capacity, including reproductive health knowledge and skills.

Expediency of School Board’s Warnings and Reprimands Strategies for Managing Students’ Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Longido District, Tanzania

This study assessed the expediency of school board warnings and reprimands strategies for managing students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Longido district. The study employed social control theory whereas convergent design under mixed research methods guided data collection and analysis. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to obtain the study sample of sixty-five (65) respondents that consisted of 5 school boards chairpersons, 20 school board members, 5 heads of schools, 5 discipline teachers and 30 teachers. Interview guides and questionnaires was validated using research’s experts from department of education planning and administration before data collection. The reliability of questionnaires instruments ensured through Cronbach-alpha and interview guide by triangulation methods. Percentages, means and standard deviation were generated from the analysed descriptive data. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented in words inform of verbatim quotations. The study revealed that warnings and reprimands is used by the school boards and school management in managing students’ discipline guided by sets of laws, regulations and standards aiming to avoid the occurrence of indiscipline and improve academic performance. Moreover, the study also found out that parental involvement and guidance and counselling strategies were used by school boards and school management managing students discipline matters before administering of warnings and reprimands. The study concluded that warnings and reprimands strategies were used by school boards in managing students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Longido district. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education Science and Technology should create awareness among public secondary schools’ stakeholder including teachers and parents on the procedures used by school boards in administering warnings and reprimands.

Examining Gender Differences in the Relationship Between School Bonding and Opioid Misuse Among Justice-Involved Adolescents.

Justice-involved adolescents (JIAs) have an increased risk for opioid use disorder and overdose related to opioid misuse (OM). Consequences of untreated OM include recidivism and poor educational outcomes, which can be harsher for female JIA. Therefore, identifying relevant factors and settings that reduce the risk for OM is critical. Schools are a central institution in adolescent development. Drawing on social control theory, JIA with higher levels of school bonding was hypothesized to attenuate risk for OM. Cross-sectional data on 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice were examined. Multivariate and stratified logistic regression analyses were employed. On average, for every one-unit increase in school bonding, JIA had 22%, female JIA had 23%, and male JIA had 22% lower odds of OM. Results suggest school bonding and the school context should be considered in treatment and how this setting may impact OM intervention outcomes among JIA.

Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Environmental Project in Nyabitekeri Sector, Rwanda. A Case of Environment and Climate Change Fund Project

Assessment of projects monitoring and evaluation practice processes an effect on performance is critical in identifying opportunities for improved Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) project plan. The effects of degradation arise from poor land use practices such as deforestation which lead to soil erosion. Other existing challenges include minimal capacity in terms of facility, information, manpower and funding for effective rivers and watershed management. The general objective of the study is to assess role of monitoring and evaluation practices on performance of environmental project in Rwanda. The specific objectives were to identify the contribution project budget on performance of environmental project in Nyamasheke, to determine the extent to which project risks analysis contributes to the performance of environmental project in Nyabitekeri Sector, to assess the role of capacity building on performance of environmental project in Nyabitekeri Sector and to establish relationship between monitoring and evaluation practice and performance of environmental project. The study used three theories such as social action theory, Social Control Theory and Habituated Action Theory. For the study researcher used descriptive research design with mixed methods such as quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population was the district environmental protection officers, monitoring and project risks analysts at sector level, and environmental project beneficiaries and in total they were 27 213 from whom a sample of 394 was selected. Simple random sampling technique was used and data was collected using the questionnaire, interview and documentation. The analysis of data was done using SPSS version 21 and bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between the independent and dependent categorical variables using -values. The strengths of the associations were determined using simple and multiple logistic regression models, mean and standard deviation. Inference was made using a 95% confidence interval and a -value < 0.05. The results were presented in frequency, cross tabulation tables, pie charts and graphs. The study findings showed that monitoring and evaluation measured in terms of (project budget, project risks analysis and capacity building) played important role on performance of environmental project with -value= 0.000, -value =0.000 and -value =0.042 respectively. Keywords: Monitoring, Evaluation, performance, environment. Environmental project

Mitigating Risks of Incarceration Among Transition-Age Foster Youth: Considering Domains of Social Bonds.

Transitioning to adulthood is difficult for young people aging out of foster care. Research shows that this population faces substantial challenges in trying to avoid legal system involvement during this difficult period of life. Seeking to improve our understanding of the protective factors that mitigate the risks of legal system involvement among transition-age foster youth, this study focuses on social bonds as predictors. Drawing from social control theory and using longitudinal foster youth survey data (n = 687), we explore two domains of social bonds (interpersonal bonds, institutional bonds) youth had at the onset of adulthood (age 17), and assess the association between domains of social bonds and later incarceration in early adulthood (between ages 17 and 21). While results provide no support for the significance of interpersonal bondedness, institutional bonds were significantly associated with decreased odds of later incarceration. This suggests that social bonds may be stronger for institutional domains than for interpersonal domains in helping youth to avoid later incarceration. These findings help explain why some youth navigate the transition to adulthood better than others with regard to legal system involvement, and inform efforts to develop policy and provide services more effectively. Implications and recommendations for the field and professionals are discussed.

Aile ve Suç İlişkisi: Denetimli Serbestlikteki Gençler Üzerine Nitel Bir Çalışma

Aile her toplumda en temel kurumdur. Toplumun sağlıklı bir şekilde varlığını sürdürebilmesi, güçlü bir aile kurumunun varlığı ile ilgilidir. Bireyin yaşadığı sorunların aile ve sosyalizasyon sürecinden etkilendiği kabul edilmektedir. Son yıllarda yapılan araştırmalarda, toplum tarafından kabul görmeyen bazı olumsuz davranışların aile yapısı ile bağlantılı olduğu belirtilmektedir. Bireyin çocukluk döneminde aile ortamında yaşadığı sorunlar onun davranışlarını olumsuz etkileyerek suça yönelmesini sağlayabilir.Suç ve ceza birbirinin ikizidir. Geçmişten günümüze toplumsal cezalandırma uygulamalarında, değişen toplumsal yapıya göre düzenlemeler yapılmıştır. Geleneksel ceza sistemleri genel olarak suçluları toplumdan soyutlamayı seçerek kapatma uygular. Ancak hapsetmek suçun yeniden işlenmesi konusunda başarılı olamamıştır. Bu durum cezaevlerinin sayısının artmasıyla ve cezaevlerinin nüfusunun kalabalıklaşmasıyla daha iyi anlaşılmaktadır. Son yıllarda geleneksel ceza sistemlerinde bir takım değişimler yapılmaktadır. Denetimli serbestlik sistemi de bu değişimlerin bir parçası olarak suç işleyeni toplum içinde kontrol etmeyi hedefler. Böylece suç işleyenin toplum içinde onanması sağlanmaya çalışılır.Bu çalışmanın amacı, denetimli serbestliğe tabi tutulan gençlerin suç işlemelerinde ailenin etkisini sosyolojik suç teorilerinden sosyal öğrenme ve sosyal kontrol teorileri kapsamında incelemek ve ülkemizde, çok uzun olmasa da, etkin bir öneme ve değere sahip olan denetimli serbestliğin genç suçluluğunu önlemede yeterliliğini değerlendirmektir. Niteliksel araştırma yönteminin uygulandığı saha araştırmasında, “İstanbul Anadolu Denetimli Serbestlik Müdürlüğü’nde” denetime tabi tutulan 18-30 yaş arası 60 kişiyle derinlemesine görüşme yapılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, gençlerin suç işlemeleri ile aile yapıları arasında anlamlı bir ilişkinin bulunduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Yine denetime tabi tutulan gençlerden elde edilen veriler doğrultusunda, sistemin geliştirilmesine ihtiyaç duyulduğu hususu ortaya çıkmıştır.

Psychology and white collar crime - compliance recommendations based on the social and psychological reality dictating perception

PurposeTo construct effective compliance programmes, the phenomenon of non-compliance and variations in its abidance must be elucidated. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the social reality of ethical decision making, which examines the internalisation of moral norms and realities of social behaviour and, therefore, the general non-compliance with everyday laws (Tyler, 2006).Design/methodology/approachThis paper makes use of several social theories, including social proof theory, traditional social theory and social control theory. Humans are social beings, and decision-making in ethics is strongly influenced by herding behaviour (Roy, 2021). The behaviour of others and normative ethical standards inform the compliance of behaviour to an undiminishable degree.FindingsAlthough there is a host of factors to consider, the success of compliance can largely be attributed to people’s perception and reception of authority. The perception of authority and legitimacy plays a vital role in appreciating the complexity of rule following. Legitimacy, and its embodiment by persons in public roles, is a cornerstone of the subsequent discussion.Originality/valueThis paper uncovers the underlying motivations of non-compliance as well as the social psychology involved in the ethics of compliance. Cross-disciplinary connections are made between the private and public sector and practical compliance recommendations. The significant impact of integrity culture and value-based compliance emerges from the dissection of the social reality.

Violent and Nonviolent Terrorist Suspects: a Comparative Analysis Based on Data from the Netherlands

What are similarities and differences between violent and nonviolent terrorist suspects? Our study aims to answer this question by comparing violent terrorist suspects (VTS) (n = 57) to nonviolent terrorist suspects (NVTS) (n = 292) in the Netherlands. Guided by social control theories and using register data from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, Statistics Netherlands, and the Research and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Justice and Security, we investigated the 2 years leading up to the terrorist suspicion by examining demographic characteristics, household composition, socioeconomic factors, and criminal background. Findings demonstrate more similarities than differences between the groups. Nonetheless, VTS were significantly more often male and had more often a (violent) criminal background. For NVTS, we found possible preventive effects of living with parents and employment. Furthermore, the differences in socioeconomic status (SES) we found urge us to develop a better understanding of the socioeconomic environment VTS and NVTS are part of and whether and how their perception of this environment influences their behavior. Notwithstanding the limitations in our study (e.g., potential police bias in register data, small sample sizes), the analyses provide insight into what factors, and potential underlying mechanisms, need further investigation to understand violent and nonviolent outcomes.

Workplace Deviant Behavior: A Theoretical Highlights

The article attempts to discuss the significance and functions of literature review including theories underlie in research especially as guide to young researchers. Basically, the review enables a researcher to have an up-to-date understanding of the research problem, particularly deviant behavior and to avoid him from attempting unnecessarily to understand what has been fully understood. The review will help the researcher to have relevant information of the context of the problem because a problem does not exist by itself, there must be certain relationship with other problems. This is essential when trying to find solution to the problem. The review also exposes the researcher to the related theories that will enable him to plan the research regarding deviant behavior in workplace appropriately. Literature review is performed by browsing the database using keywords; deviant, theory of deviant behavior and workplace deviant behavior. There are several theories that provide a clear picture of workplace deviant behavior such as Social Learning Theory, Social Exchange Theory, General Strain Theory, Mount, Judge and Illies's (2006) model of Workplace Deviant, Conservation of Resources Theory, and Social Control Theory. Understanding through the highlights of this theory can be the basis for a more detailed study of deviant behavior in the workplace, especially in the context of organizations in Malaysia.

Examining Sexual Crime Severity in China: A General-specific Model on Sex Offending Against Adults.

Sexual violence severity has long been viewed as a critical factor of sex offending. However, the criminological viewpoints on sexual violence severity have not received much attention, especially in the Chinese context. By integrating general-criminogenic (inhibitory mechanisms) and specific sex offending (learning mechanisms and contextual factors) perspectives, the current study links the propositions of social control (bonds) theory, self-control theory, differential association theory, and the integrated theory of sex offending, proposing a general-specific model for sexual violence severity. Survey data was collected from 250 Chinese offenders who committed sexual offenses against adults. The mediation analysis found that deviant peer association fully mediates the effects of social control and low self-control on sexual violence severity. The moderation analysis showed that substance abuse exaggerates the impact of deviant peer association on sexual violence severity, while sex purchasing mitigates this relationship. This general-specific model may expand our current understanding of sexual violence severity from both criminological and psychological perspectives.

Parental Care and Family Support as Moderators on Overlapping College Student Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization during the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Purpose The study examined whether parental care and family support moderate the association between school bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization among college students by applying the social anthropological approach and social control theory Method Data were collected for 261 college students (57.9% female) aged between 18 to 24 or older from a university in the Midwest region of the United States. A latent moderated structural equations approach was utilized Results The data revealed that bullying victimization was positively associated with cyberbullying victimization. Moreover, parental care was a significant moderator between bullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization Discussion These findings have implications of preventing victims of bullying becoming victims of cyberbullying. Parental involvement especially needs to be emphasized for college students’ cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs.

Adolescent Delinquency and the Crime of Robbery in the Study of Criminal Theory

No one wants a crime to occur in their community, because the existence of this crime will be disturbing and detrimental to people's lives. Therefore, crime must be tackled and stopped. This article discusses cases of adolescent delinquency, burglary crimes and labeling practices in the study of criminological theories. It is important to understand cases of adolescent delinquency, crime of robbery and labeling practices in terms of the characteristics of crime and criminals. The research method used is a normative juridical research method with secondary data sources. The results showed that there were 5 (five) theories that could be used to analyze adolescent delinquency cases, namely the French sect, differential association, anomie, social control, and learning theory. While the crime of robbery is analyzed in 4 (four) theories, namely classical criminology theory, positive criminology, differential association, and opportunity theory. Meanwhile, the case of labeling in society was studied using labeling theory. The above theories can be used as a strategy to prevent and prosecute juvenile crimes, in this case juvenile brawls as a special crime, burglary crimes, and community labeling practices. It can be concluded that increasing family participation as the first medium of learning for children by increasing control, so that brawls between teenagers can be anticipated, as well as increasing community participation and social control as well as preventive, curative, and repressive actions to prevent actions that violate social norms and legal norms.

Social Control in the Digital Transformation of Society: A Case Study of the Chinese Social Credit System

The Chinese social credit system (SCS) is a digital sociotechnical credit system that rewards and sanctions the economic and social behaviors of individuals and companies. This article uses classic social-control theories—the shaming theory and the labeling theory—to analyze the SCS, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the Chinese social-control approach to the digital transformation of society. Our research relies not only on government documents and media reports, but also on first-hand data collected from in-depth interviews conducted in China. We found that the perceived effectiveness of the shaming and labeling mechanisms is enhanced by the design of the SCS framework and the assistance of digital technology but weakened by a lack of transparency and questionable justification criteria, as well as privacy and fairness concerns.

SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY AND CYBERCRIME

The paper pays attention to the potential role that the social control theory has in the improvement and development of previous Information-Communication Technology (ICT) Policy. Online activities are daily routine of people all around the world. Emerging information and communication technologies create numerous challenges and issues how to regulate its use. ICT policy interests are closely related to concern of social order in cyberspace. The development of ICT possibilities at the same time follows development of new cybercrime forms. The ICT policy needs to explore new strategies and theoretical integration that transcend the existing criminological frame. The sociological theory of social control to a significant degree may predict and explain crime and how people define and respond to deviant behavior. How social control theory may order individual behavior in cyberspace? May it help prevention of cybercrime and maintain more safer and conscientious use of the internet? The following article provides an analysis of the possibilities of social control theory in maintaining the order in cyber society. Throughout the article, the social control theory is discussed by content analysis scientific method. Main purpose of the paper is to encourage concerning use of social control mechanisms as one of the effective tools for regulation in cyberspace and prevention of cybercrime.