Assignment:
Social control theory has stood the test of time and has been revised, modified, and applied to many different types of deviant/criminal behavior. Hirschi's original version of social control looked at parents as the major control mechanism in ensuring that kids do not commit crime. The main premise of the theory is that through good parenting, individuals learn to differentiate between right and wrong from the early years of their childhood and this protects them from becoming criminals.
1. Do you think that parenting plays a major role in shaping the criminality of the children? Why?
2. With parents being so instrumental in shaping the likely criminality of their children, should there be mandatory classes in parenting? Why?