1985 · Study · English

The social development model: An integrated approach to delinquency prevention

Hawkins, J.D., Weis, J.G.

Hawkins, J.D., Weis, J.G. (1985). The social development model: An integrated approach to delinquency prevention. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 6(2), 73–97. doi.org/10.1007/bf01325432

Summary

The original statement of the social development model, published in the Journal of Primary Prevention in 1985 and still the theoretical backbone of CTC. Hawkins and Weis integrate social control theory with social learning theory into a developmental account of delinquency: family, school, peers and community shape behaviour in sequence, and socialisation succeeds when a young person has opportunities for involvement in conforming activities within each unit, the skills to take part successfully, and consistent recognition from the people involved. Those three conditions are expected to build attachment to others, commitment to conforming behaviour and belief in the conventional order; such bonds then inhibit association with delinquent peers and, through that, delinquent behaviour. The paper sets out prevention approaches consistent with the model and states plainly that their effects on delinquency require rigorous evaluation. The chain of opportunities, skills, recognition and bonding that CTC trainers teach as the social development strategy is taken directly from this article.