In 1969, Travis Hirschi developed what is known as social bond theory. Hirschi built on the work of other social control theorists and was able to provide a better idea of ​​what social bonding is. In social bonding theory, four basic elements constitute social bonds. These are attachment, involvement, commitment and belief. It is these four bonds that all humans hold and which ultimately determine conformity or deviant behavior (Agnew, 1985). The four links are imperative in determining a person's conformity or deviance to society. When ties are weak, Hirschi found that a person becomes “free” to engage in delinquency (Williams & McShane, 2010). The first link, which is attachment, concerns the relationship we have with parents, friends or school and clubs. Attachment is the most important bond because a strong bond with parents or institutions will help prevent deviance. Attachment is also important because other bonds are thought to rely on attachment. The second link, which is involvement, concerns time spent in extracurricular activities (Williams and McShane, 2010). These activities include things like work, hobbies, school, and talking with friends. It is believed that the more time an individual spends on these activities, the less time they will have to engage in deviant behavior. Participation in sports, clubs and other activities will increase conformity to society. Commitment, which is the third link, focuses on the time an individual invests in a career, education, or their own reputation (Williams and McShane, 2010). It is believed that if an individual has spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into something, such as an education, then the risk of committing deviant behavior...... middle of paper ......ity ( Williams & McShane, 2010).In conclusion, social bond theory has been around for many years and has stood the test of time. The four bonds, attachment, involvement, commitment and belief, are all held by individuals and play a major role in determining crime. Although it does not perfectly describe deviance, it fits what is considered to be the basic human view of why people become criminals. The view of social bond theory is that all humans are fundamentally evil and that deviance is a natural process. It is simply a question of the strength or weakness of these bonds which promotes or discourages deviance. Works Cited Agnew, R. (1985). Social control theory and delinquency: A longitudinal test. Criminology Volume 23, 47-59. Williams, F. and McShane, M. (2010). Criminological Theory, 5th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc..