Krohn, Marvin D.: Networks and Crime

Elizabeth A. Miller

Marvin D. Krohn began to develop his theory of the relationship between social networks, deviance, and crime in 1980. His work builds on Travis Hirschi's social bonding theory and sought to explain conformity as a result of social constraint. Hirschi posited that attachment to others, commitment to institutions, belief in conventional values and norms, and involvement in society are network ties that constrain behavior and prevent deviation from social norms. While Hirschi stated that the weakening or severing of any of these network ties lessens constraint and leads to deviant behavior, Krohn sought to identify which elements are the strongest predictor of delinquency and whether the effects of social constraint were different for males than females. According to Krohn's theory of delinquent behavior, the degree to which an individual is incorporated into a social network indicates how much social constraint that person experiences. Increased involvement in a complex social network ...

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