Operationalizing social control theory among juvenile delinquents in Guangzhou : what can social workers do?

Abstract

In recent years, with the rapid development of society, diversification of information channels, and the flow of population to economically developed areas formed by the change of urban and rural structures, the thoughts and behaviors of the youth change. There is an increasing need to understand juvenile behaviors for the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Travis Hirschi’s social control theory is one of the most outstanding and widely influential control theories in Western criminology. This theory explains the causes of juvenile delinquency in terms of the strength of social ties. This paper analyzes the social work in Guangzhou through the four social bonds of social control – attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Based on a careful study of the existing literature and theoretical practice, this paper evaluates the practice of social work in the prevention of juvenile delinquency with social control theory. Finally, this paper proposes innovative means which integrate the social control theory with social work for the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Meanwhile, together with the comprehensive and detailed interviews in this thesis, it constitutes the greatest innovation of this paper. It serves as a guide for social work in China in the field of juvenile offenders, such as the intervention of social workers in the reintegration process of juvenile offenders, protecting and helping them to learn through group work and contact schools, and assisting communities and schools in advocacy.