Which theory explains why people abide by law due to social bonds and responsibilities?

• A. Deterrence
• B. Internal Forms of Social Control
• C. Control Theory
• D. Retribution

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that people stay within the law because they are tied to others and to conventional roles in society. This is the essence of Control Theory, which explains that strong social bonds act as informal restraints on deviance. When someone has close attachments to family, friends, and mentors, they don’t want to jeopardize those relationships by offending. Their commitments to education, work, and future goals raise the stakes of conforming, making crime costly in terms of what they might lose. Being involved in school, work, and community activities keeps them oriented toward conventional paths, leaving less time and opportunity for unlawful behavior. And a genuine belief in laws and shared norms reinforces the idea that following the rules is the right thing to do. Put together, these bonds and responsibilities create internal and external pressures to conform, reducing the likelihood of crime even without the threat of punishment.

Deterrence and retribution focus on outcomes after a crime (punishment to deter or to balance justice), not on the protective effect of social relationships. Internal forms of social control emphasize self-regulation and internalized norms; while related, the phrase about social bonds and responsibilities most directly aligns with Control Theory.