Control theory proposes that a lack of self-control is a key factor in criminal behavior. It attempts to explain why more people do not commit crimes by arguing that social limits restrain people's natural impulses towards immediate gratification. The theory connects low self-control with criminal and impulsive conduct, and believes criminal behavior is influenced by factors like family, schooling, environment, and morals. Later, Sykes and Matza outlined specific techniques of neutralization that criminals use to justify their lack of self-control, such as denial of responsibility, injury, or the victim, appealing to higher loyalties, or condemning those who condemn them.

1. Control Theory
Lauren Rose
Governors State University
11/30/13

2. What Is Control Theory?
Criminological theory that correlates the lack of an individual’s self
control as a key factor in criminal behavior.
Attempts to answer the question, why don’t more people commit
crimes?
describes that if allowed, people would seek out the greatest pleasure
or reward at all times, but limits created by society stop most from
acting out this behavior.
Connects low levels of self-control with criminal and impulsive
conduct.
Believes there is a direct correlation of behavior with the influences of
school, family life, environment and morals.

3. Self Control
The theory states that people with high self
esteem are less likely to commit crime, and
people with low self esteem are more likely to
commit crime.

4. Pleasure Principle
Theory originally refereed to the desire for
immediate gratification by people & the
pleasure principle.
The pleasure principle drives a person to look
for pleasurable situations and avoid painful
ones.

5. from the mind of..
Emile Durkheim
1938
“We are moral beings to the extent that we are social beings”
His theory describes that crimes serves as the function of
distinguishing boundaries for behavior.
Believes behaviors are directly connected to how society tells people
to act
We conform to these behaviors because we have self control and
want to be accepted by society.

6. Gresham Sykes and
David Matza
From the original control theory, criminologists
Sykes and Matza outlined 5 specific
techniques of neutralization.
This theory describes 5 types of excuses used
by deviants.
Criminals know they are doing something
wrong, but use these techniques to justify their
lack of self control.

7. Neutralization
Denial of responsibility -the offender will propose that they were victims of circumstance or
were forced into situations beyond their control
“It wasn’t my fault!”
Denial of injury- the offender insists that their actions did not cause any harm or damage
“They can afford the loss!”
Denial of the victim the offender believes that the victim deserved whatever action the
offender committed
“They had it coming!”
Condemnation of the condemners- the offenders maintain that those who condemn their
offense are doing so purely out of spite, or are shifting the blame off of themselves unfairly
“You would have done the same thing!”
Appeal to higher loyalties- the offender suggests that his or her offense was for the greater
good, with long term consequences that would justify their actions, such as protection of a
friend
“My friend needed me, I had to do it!”

8. References:
Durkheim, Emile. 1938. Rules of the sociological method. Translated by Sarah A. Solovay and John
H. Mueller. Edited by George E. G. Catlin. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (2011). Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences Fifth Edition. Washington D. C: Sage
Publications.
Sykes, Gresham and Matza, David. (1957). Techniques of Neutralization: A Theory of Delinquency.
American Sociological Review. 22(6). 664-670