Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Control balance is a general, integrated theory to explain deviant behavior by individuals or organizations, although it explains conformity and submission as well. Deviant behavior consists of acts disapproved by the majority of a group or that typically bring about negative social reactions. Since criminal behavior is usually deviant, the theory also explains most crime. Theoretically, the likelihood of deviance in some form is predictable from a control imbalance and a motivation-producing provocation. A control imbalance exists when the control a social entity (individual or organization) can exercise over things, circumstances, or individuals is greater or less than the control to which the social entity is subject. Relative amounts of total control are registered as control ratios, which can show balance, deficits, or surpluses. With a given a control imbalance and a motivating provocation, specific deviance is chosen from acts within a restricted range of control balance desirability (CBD). Since the degree of CBD varies among acts, all misbehaviors can be arrayed over a continuum of CBD. The range of the CBD continuum from which an act is chosen is related to a person's control ratio, opportunity, possible counter-control the act will likely attract, and the person's self-control. Choosing a particular deviant act is called control balancing – weighing perceived gain in ... log in or subscribe to read full text