Can a movie about prison inmates’ journey to freedom illuminate a critical criminology theory? The movie The Shawshank Redemption (1994) can provide an interesting case study for exploring the implications of social control theory in criminology. Social control theory posits that bonds that tie individuals to their societies and communities prevent them from engaging in criminal activities. By examining the characters, plot, and themes of The Shawshank Redemption, this essay will explore how the film offers a unique perspective on how social control works about criminal behavior. The Shawshank Redemption provides a powerful illustration of how social control theory works in practice and how it can shape an individual’s life trajectory. By examining the characters, their relationships, and their actions, this paper will explore how The Shawshank Redemption illustrates social control theory and the influence of external and internal forces of conformity.
The social control concept is a school of thought in criminology that is predicated on the idea that individuals are dissuaded from engaging in criminal behavior as a direct result of the existence of social relationships that bind them to the norms of traditional society. Travis Hirschi first proposed it in 1969, and it has grown in popularity as an explanation of criminal behavior and juvenile delinquency (Costello & Laub, 2020). According to this line of thinking, an individual’s likelihood of breaking the law is reduced if they have strong ties to their family, place of employment, and several other social institutions. It is predicated on the concept that individuals continually weigh the costs and rewards of participating in criminal activity and that persons with solid social links are less likely to engage in criminal behavior due to these considerations. The underlying premises of the social control theory are that people are capable of engaging in illegal behavior (Kempf-Leonard, 2019) and that there are factors in their environment that serve as deterrents to prevent them from doing so. The strength of the social bonds that make up the external forces varies from person to person. These social bonds make up the external forces (Oleson, 2019). Those with more significant social relationships are less likely to engage in criminal behavior. In contrast, those with weaker social bonds are more likely to engage in criminal behavior.
Individuals are more likely to commit criminal behavior when their bonds to society are weakened or broken, which is one of the tenets of the social control theory (Costello & Laub, 2020). On the other hand, more robust social bonds will lead to an increase in conformity and a decrease in criminal behavior, which is another tenet of the social control theory (Nickerson, 2022). There is also the viewpoint that the degree to which an individual feels connected to particular social institutions, such as their family, place of employment, school, and religion, is a significant factor in determining the robustness of their social ties. The idea of social bonds, which can be seen as the connections between an individual and traditional society, is one of the basic tenets of the social control theory. Attachment, commitment, participation, and belief are the building blocks of social ties, the four components that make up social bonds. Attachment refers to an individual’s emotional connection with conventional society and the institutions it entails. In contrast, commitment refers to the amount of time and energy an individual is willing to dedicate to a specific social institution. The degree to which an individual participates in day-to-day activities is referred to as involvement, and belief refers to an individual’s acceptance of the norms and ideals of society.
The strength of an individual’s social relationships and their perceptions of the risks and rewards of engaging in illegal behavior are the variables connected with the social control theory (Aslan et al., 2019). Additionally, to comprehend this theory, it is necessary to grasp both the positive and the destructive social relationships. The connections that an individual has with conventional society are considered to be positive social bonds. In contrast, an individual’s connections with peers who engage in deviant or criminal behavior are considered negative social relationships. Those with strong social bonds are less likely to engage in criminal behavior, whereas those with weak social bonds are more likely to commit a crime. The relationship between social bonds and criminal behavior can be summarized as follows: those with strong social bonds are less likely to commit a crime. This is because people with strong social relationships have more to lose if they engage in illegal behavior. As a result, they are less inclined to engage in such behavior. On the other side, individuals with fewer social ties have fewer incentives to conform to society’s rules and values, making them more prone to engage in criminal behavior.
The Shawshank Redemption, on the other hand, is an American drama film that was released in 1994 and was written and directed by Frank Darabont. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins feature in the film. The movie depicts the narrative of Andy Dufresne, a banker who, despite his assertions of innocence, is found guilty of the murder of his wife and her lover and condemned to life in prison at Shawshank State Penitentiary for the crime (30:40). During his incarceration, he strikes up a friendship with another prisoner named Ellis “Red” Redding, discovers peace in the institution’s library, and finally earns the respect of both the staff and the other prisoners.
The movie begins with the trial of Andy Dufresne and his conviction of murder. After his sentencing, he is taken to Shawshank State Penitentiary. During his time in prison, Andy is forced to adapt to a life of confinement, facing constant danger and brutality from the correctional officers and inmates (40:37). He soon forms a friendship with Red, a long-term inmate, and begins to find a way to survive in prison. Throughout the movie, there are examples of criminal and deviant behavior. The guards at Shawshank are often cruel and abusive, using physical force to maintain order in prison. Andy is also subjected to verbal abuse and sexual harassment. The other inmates also exhibit criminal and deviant behavior, engaging in activities such as gambling, extortion, and even murder. Red is also involved in smuggling contraband into the prison. The movie also shows the power of the prison system and how it can corrupt and dehumanize its inmates.
Despite all of this, Andy can keep his identity intact, and he eventually discovers a means to flee the prison and begin a new life for himself. The Shawshank Redemption is an intense and emotionally packed movie that brings to light the catastrophic repercussions of the criminal justice system as well as the resiliency of the human spirit. It is a narrative of hope and redemption that stands as a testament to the power of friendship and the force of human will. It is a story that stands as a testament to the power of human will.
To connect the theory and the movie, social control theory explains criminal and deviant behavior in The Shawshank Redemption by positing that individuals who lack a solid attachment to society are more likely to engage in criminal activities. In the movie, Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, despite the circumstantial evidence against him. Throughout the movie, we see how Andy lacks solid social ties. He is isolated from other inmates, as he does not participate in the same activities and has no apparent relationships with them. He also has no family or friends to visit him in prison. With no attachments to society, Andy is likelier to commit criminal acts to survive in prison, such as smuggling contraband and money. The movie also shows the other inmates’ attempts to control Andy’s behavior. After his arrival, Red warns Andy about the prison hierarchy and how he must remain on the good side of the guards and “the sisters” to survive. This is an example of how the other inmates attempt to enforce social control, thus preventing Andy from engaging in criminal activity. Overall, the social control theory describes how Andy’s lack of attachment to society and the other convicts’ attempts to regulate his behavior contribute to his criminal and deviant behavior in the film The Shawshank Redemption.
This investigation concludes that the social control theory offers a helpful explanation for the criminal and aberrant behavior depicted in the film The Shawshank Redemption. The movie highlights how a lack of strong bonds to family and community, a lack of conviction in the validity of the judicial system, and a sense of alienation from society may all contribute to deviant behavior through the example of Andy Dufresne. The movie also demonstrates how Andy’s eventual reintegration into society, which he achieves through the formation of strong social bonds and a renewed belief in the law, ultimately acts as a form of social control, allowing Andy to turn his life around and refrain from engaging in any further criminal activity. This is shown in the movie due to Andy’s renewed faith in the law. This analysis explains how the social control theory can be utilized to explain the criminal and deviant behavior displayed in the movie The Shawshank Redemption.
References
Hindi Motivation. (2022). The Shawshank Redemption Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins full movie [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/jzbyitmt03g
Costello, B. J., & Laub, J. H. (2020). Social control theory: The legacy of Travis Hirschi’s causes of delinquency. Annual Review of Criminology, 3, 21-41
Kempf-Leonard, K. (2019). The status of Hirschi’s social control theory after 50 years. In Fifty Years of Causes of Delinquency (pp. 161-208). Routledge.
Nickerson, C. (2022). Hirschi’s social control theory of crime.
Aslan, M., Rosinaite, V., & Khojanashvili, L. (2019). Social control theory variables in conceptualizing bonding models of attachment theory and adolescent development. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 8(2), 199.
Oleson, J. C. (2019). The Criminology of Travis Hirschi: Social Control and Beyond. In Fifty Years of Causes of Delinquency (pp. 1–26). Routledge.
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