Social bond is the binding ties or social bonding to the family. Social bond is the degree to which an individual is integrated into the society. Social bond also includes social bonding to the school, to the workplace and to the community. Social Bond theory was written by Travis Warner Hirschi in 1969.

This theory uses four elements of the social bond to explain why people conform: attachment to parents and peers, commitment (cost factor involved in engaging in deviant activities), involvement in conventional activities, and belief in conventional values.

Social bonding theory is a control theory built upon the assumption that people are inherently self-interested; therefore, it seeks to explain why some people refrain from crime rather than engage in crime. It is one of the more prominent control theories found in criminological literature.

Secure emotional bonds help children and teens develop trust and self-esteem. They can then venture out of the family to form other social connections, like healthy friendships. In turn, healthy friendships reduce the risk of a child becoming emotionally distressed or engaging in antisocial behaviors.

Bonding across these 4 planes is important for any happy and healthy relationship. When we bond emotionally, physically, intellectually and experientially with our loved ones, we build trust and understanding that allows us to lean on one another in ways we cannot lean on others.

Regardless of its source, the goal of social control is to maintain conformity to established norms and rules. Social control is typically employed by group members in response to anyone it considers deviant, problematic, threatening, or undesirable, with the goal of ensuring conformity.