The Theory Of Self Control - 2684 Words

Self-control has become an important part of society today, as individuals are believed to have control of their own destiny, in terms of financial success, personal achievement and many other facets of life. But how do we arrange the contingencies in our own life to create for our own success when many feel as though there are greater forces at work? Skinner’s seminal book, Science and Human Behavior, published in 1953, outlined his behavioral interpretation of human nature. Because a main facet of behaviorism is that environmental events control our behavior, it can sometimes lend itself towards a life view in which the individual has no control over his own behavior. However, Skinner provides an analysis of self-control, wherein he posits that behavioral contingencies can be arranged to benefit the individual and make changes in one’s own behavior. Epstein (1997) provides a succinct summary of Skinner’s views on self-control in the following statement: â€Å"we manage our own behavior when we deliberately alter the variables of which that behavior is a function; that is, when we act in some way in order to change our subsequent behavior.† (Epstein, 1997, p. 545). An outline of these methods is provided in the present paper, as well as an interpretive analysis of the behavioral principles involved in each method. Skinner’s Nine Categories Self-Control Methods Physical restraint and physical aid. Skinner describes physical restraint and physical aid as a manipulation of theShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Self Control Theory985 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Social control theory suggest that crime occurs when such bonds are weakened or are not well established. Self-control theory argue that without such bonds, crime is an inevitable outcome. Hence, criminality is considered as a possibility for all individuals within society, bypassed only by those who seek to maintain family and social bonds. These bonds are based on attachment to those within and outside of the family, including friends, teachers, and co-workers, commitment to activitiesRead MoreSelf-Control Theory1854 Words   |  8 PagesSelf-control Theory of Crime Evaluation Self-control Theory of Crime Evaluation Marilyn A. Vazquez CJA/540 Criminological Theories University of Phoenix Angela Williams October 24, 2011 Abstract Crime consists of behavior patterns, the environment, and the economy of the world. Researchers tend to use theories to answers questions concerning these behaviors. For example such questions involve why people commit crimes, what type of people commit crimes, and a host of other questions. The topicRead MoreThe Theory And Low Self Control Theory915 Words   |  4 Pages Within the field of criminology, a number of theories exist that attempt to explain why some individuals commit crime, while others abstain from it. Some theories attribute crime to the specific environment; they believe that an individual commits crime when certain ecological conditions are met (Felson, 2001). Others argue that crime is caused by the individual themselves; that criminals are the result of unrestrained thoughts and low self-control (Gottfredson Hirschi, 2001). This paper willRead MoreThe Self-Control Theory of Delinquency733 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction The Self-control Theory of Delinquency has received extensive attention in the past decade, but most studies have not tested its arguments about the effects of parenting on self-control and delinquency. In this essay, the author will analyze the subject of self-control theory as it was tracked through Hong Kong families to see if it has any impact upon delinquency. Analysis Before we explore the subject of self-control theory with regard to the article from the Journal of PsychologyRead MoreTheory Theories, Subcultural Theory And Self Control Theory1683 Words   |  7 PagesThis time, I am going to focus on these two theories, subcultural theory and self-control theory. The reason why I chose these theories is that I am studying abroad now and I have possibilities that I can be a person who have subcultural aspects and need to do self-control here in US. Anyway, subcultural theory was built by Merton. This theory describe that there are many people who completely adjust their own norms or rules and these things are totally different from the major social group, soRead MoreSelf Control Theory : A General Theory Of Crime1309 Words   |  6 PagesSelf-control theory hypothesizes that self-discipline explains a variance in the extent to which people are susceptible to specific urges, whether committing criminal or non-criminal actions. Travis Hirschi a nd Michael Gottfredson gave rise to self-control theory in their book named A General Theory of Crime. Because its creators define the self-control theory as a â€Å"general theory of crime†, to them it is believed that this theory can be implemented to multiple behaviors where a person is not capableRead MoreThe Self-Control Theory of Crime Evaluation Essay1427 Words   |  6 PagesClass: AJS/514 With the theory of conflict it said, it is a social order that society has to abide by this order. With an order it establishes, the social class they are under also the economic class they fit into as well. Karl Marx has derived the theory, which Marx felt that supreme power was from groups. That had the best social resources, political, also economic with them with the conflict theory is exists of unfairness. For the reason the group that has the power that is, an unequal partRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Control And The Decision Making Systems1394 Words   |  6 Pagessystem that exerts self-control belongs to oneself is to overemphasize on self-control and neglect the other important aspects of self, such as the advantages of these systems for survival and the neural activities responsible for the decision-making systems. Those who reject Pavlovian, Procedural, and reflexes as parts of self, assume that to belong to a â€Å"self†, a decision-making system must be conscious and make the agent be aware of the actions taken. However, this definition of â€Å"self† is problematicRead MoreColumbine High School Massacre : Self Control Theory Essay1709 Words   |  7 PagesColumbine High School Massacre: Self-Control Theory Briselda Villalaz San Diego State University Introduction The Columbine High School Massacre was a school shooting that took place on April 20th, 1999 in Columbine, Colorado. It was a highly planned attacked that included a bomb to confused firefighters, propane tanks that were made into bombs to blow up the cafeteria, 99 explosive device, and some car bombs. The masterminds were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, they were both seniors. CollaborativelyRead MoreTo Commit a Crime or Not Based on Gottfredson and Hirschs Self-Control Theory1059 Words   |  5 PagesGottfredson and Hirsch’s self-control theory revolves around one’s inclination to commit a crime or refrain from committing a crime based on low or high self-controls. It is a general crime theory that explains all crime at all periods in time. The principal factor is self- control. In this theory, a person with low self-control is much more likely to commit a crime then a person with high self-control. For Gottfredson and Hirsch’s definition of crime, they state t hat a crime is an act undertaken