Application of Social Control Theory to Thomas Gilbert Jr.’s Case
Introduction to Social Control Theory
The core idea behind the social control theory is that a person’s commitment to societal norms can be seen as one of the prevention mechanisms against social deviance. It means that individual bonds represent a source of influence that can be expected to improve one’s emotional and cognitive processes (Brotherton and Gude 942; Holt et al. 136). Positive well-being outcomes can be associated with attachment because criminal behaviors and other types of social deviance are contingent on the size of the given community.
In line with Chriss, social control theory can be applied to criminology because it tries to answer why most community members avoid delinquent behaviors, unlike offenders (92). The primary explanation for positive outcomes in criminals is the existence of social bonds that protect the person from exploiting their negative characteristics. The case of Thomas Gilbert Jr. is a perfect representation of how weak societal bonds contributed to a person’s death by allowing the crime to happen.
Application of the Theory to Thomas Gilbert’s Case
Throughout the years after killing his father, Thomas Gilbert Jr. underwent several evaluations intended to help the parties involved understand if there was a mental condition behind the crime. Prosecutors decided that the criminal might have experienced specific issues, but none of them could mark him as legally insane (Glatt). Except for therapy, there were no other propositions, making it exceptionally hard to offer any alternative to straightforward incarceration.
Social control theory can be applied to the current scenario because Gilbert Jr.’s case is a covert testament to how the criminal’s family became idle when it mattered most. Vivid inaction resulted in Thomas Gilbert Jr. killing his father and receiving little to no help regarding his mental health issues. The judge overlooked the context of psychological sickness because there were no particular reasons to consider it.
It is crucial to apply the social control theory to this case because Gilbert Jr. displayed multiple habits of a mentally ill person over time. The family history of psychological issues should have served as a hint at how the judge should have treated the case. Glatt mentioned Gilbert Jr. suffering from depression and schizophrenia, and his mother failing to admit him to any mental health care facility.
The fact that Gilbert Jr. was found mentally incompetent shows that the criminal’s family exerted minimal effort to influence his behavior. In light of such idleness, it was not surprising that lawyers failed to validate the existence of Gilbert Jr.’s psychological issues. The social control theory applies to this case perfectly because the criminal’s support system was nowhere to be found when Gilbert Jr. needed the most assistance (Costello and Laub 24). It is safe to say that the offender belonged to a mental health institution, but the lack of attachment across all support systems ultimately caused his incarceration.
Conclusion
It is unsurprising to see criminal justice and mental health interconnected with the social control theory, closing the gap. Nevertheless, it is essential to capitalize on cases similar to Thomas Gilbert Jr.’s. There is a lack of understanding of mental health issues and how those can alter the criminal justice environment. A closer analysis of the social control theory and its real-life applications could offer several new approaches to criminals affected by mental health issues.
Works Cited
Brotherton, David C., and Rafael Gude. “Social Control and the Gang: Lessons from the Legalization of Street Gangs in Ecuador.” Critical Criminology, vol. 29, no. 4, 2021, pp. 931-955.
Chriss, James J. Social Control: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2022.
Costello, Barbara J., and John H. Laub. “Social Control Theory: The Legacy of Travis Hirschi’s causes of delinquency.” Annual Review of Criminology, vol. 3, no. 1, 2020, pp. 21-41.
Glatt, John. “Wealthy Man’s Murder by Mentally Ill Son Exposes Our Broken System.” New York Post, New York Post. 2021. Web.
Holt, Thomas J., et al. “Examining the Utility of Social Control and Social Learning in the Radicalization of Violent and Non-Violent Extremists.” Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, vol. 11, no. 3, 2018, pp. 125-148.