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Write a 5 sentence reply to this discussion post: Robert Agnews (1991) article provides a rigorous longitudinal test of Hirschis social bonding theory and addresses weaknesses in prior research. Agnew (1991) argued that earlier studies often relied on weak measures of the four social bonds. He also argued that earlier research failed to control for prior delinquency and did not clearly examine whether social bonds actually caused later delinquency or were simply related to it at the same time (Agnew, 1991). Using longitudinal data from the National Youth Survey, Agnew (1991) constructed a model that controlled for earlier delinquency and measurement error. He tested both direct and indirect effects of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief on later delinquency. His goal was not to dismiss Hirschis theory, but to see whether attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief truly predicted delinquency over time.

Agnew (1991) found that the effects of social bonding were not as strong or straightforward as Hirschi suggested. When prior delinquency was controlled, only some of the bonds had significant and direct effects on later delinquency (Agnew, 1991). In some cases, the relationship appeared reciprocal, meaning that delinquency could weaken bonds just as weak bonds could lead to delinquency. These findings challenged the assumption that weak bonds by themselves produce later delinquency. Agnew (1991) was able to suggest that the relationship between bonds and delinquency is more complex than Hirschi originally proposed.

Hirschi argued that delinquency occurs when social bonds are weak or absent and that these bonds are what restrain individuals from acting on natural self-interest (Beaver, 2026b). Both Beaver (2026) and Lilly et al. (2011) cite that Hirschi argued that delinquency occurs when social bonds are weak and that strong attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief restrain individuals from offending behaviors. However, Agnews (1991) findings challenge the strength of that claim. Though social bonds are related to delinquency, they may not operate as powerful, independent causes for delinquency itself. Instead, it seems they work alongside peer influences and prior behavior. Overall, Agnews (1991) study does not reject social bonding theory, but it shows that it may not fully explain delinquency as simply as Hirschi believed.