Testing Hirschi's integration of social control and rational choice: are bonds considered in offender decisions?

Hirschi suggested that social control and choice theories can be linked because social bonds may restrain offending by increasing the consideration of costs within the offending decision itself. Despite considerable research on both theories, no previous criminological research has examined the manner in which bonds may constrain offending. A diverse sample of male and female felony offenders (n = 1013) from a southwestern correctional system were asked about their levels of belief in conventional values, attachment to family and religious involvement and commitment, as well as their perception of the certainty and severity of potential costs associated with a hypothetical drunk driving scenario. Hirschi's contention was supported in multivariate path models that demonstrated cost considerations did in fact mediate the relationship between social bonds and drunk driving likelihood. These results link two dominant and impactful control theories in criminology, and suggest that to increase the effectiveness of deterrence policy-makers may need to consider improving the individuals' connections to society.