2.1 Flashcards
state the internal forms of social control (reasons)
- moral conscience
- tradition and culture
- socialisation and rational ideology
describe moral conscious as an internal form of social control
- conscience and a personal sense of morality may encourage individuals to abide by the law.
- superego: Freud. We conform to societies expectations/rules because our superego tells us to do so. Tells us what’s right and wrong, inflicts feelings of guilt if we fail to do as it urges.
describe tradition and culture as an internal form of social control
- internalise beliefs of our religion/ family traditions - set of rules that tell us what’s right and wrong.
- conforming to traditions = important way of affirming one’s identity and being accepted as a member of a particular community.
- e.g. Muslims fasting at Ramadan.
describe socialisation and rational ideology as an internal form of social control
- internalise values and norms (from parents/wider social groups) which tell us what is right and wrong, use to judge our own beh and stay with law.
- People don’t engage in criminal activity as they believe the laws are right and proper and exist to protect the population.
- They abide by the law as they believe it is the best means of achieving social control.
- e.g. abiding by road traffic regulations and not speeding or driving while using a mobile phone to ensure road safety for other users.
- e.g. queueing in shops to prevent public disorder.
describe how internal forms of social control contribute to individuals abiding by the law.
- social control refers to techniques and strategies for preventing criminal behaviour in society.
- individuals conscience and personal sense of morality may encourage them to abide by the law
- Freud (superego - superego tells us to, guilt otherwise)
- individuals abide due to internalised beliefs/rules of religion/ family traditions, tells them right + wrong.
- e.g. Muslims fasting at Ramadan.
- Internalisation of norms/values (from socialisation in families/wider society) - tells them laws are right/ proper and exist to protect pop. Best way of achieving social control.
- e.g. not speeding to ensure road safety for others
- Links to control theory - Hirschi - conform as we have social bonds to society, when broken = delinquent.
the more attached to someone, the more we care about their opinion of us- the more we will respect their norms, less likely to break law. (e.g. parents)
beliefs - less likely to break law if socialised to believe it’s right to obey
state external reasons why people obey law
- coercion
- fear of punishment
describe coercion as an external form of social control
- Coercion = use of force to achieve a desired end.
- May be physical/non-violent. e.g., the prison service has the power to restrict the liberty of a person.
- threat of future punishment for rule breaking.
- sending someone to prison for stealing to prevent reoffending.
describe fear of punishment as an external form of social control
- loss of freedom
- Fear of punishment = deterrence: punishment is used as a threat to deter people from offending.
- The concept of deterrence has two key assumptions, individual deterrence and general deterrence.
- A prison sentence will ensure that people are prevented from committing further crimes. - right realists (costs outweigh - rational choice)
describe agencies of external social control
police - power to stop, search, arrest and question suspects
CPS - can charge a suspect and put them in court.
prison service - detain prisoners against their will for duration of sentence and punish prisoners misbehaviour.
parents, teachers
describe how the prison service acts as an external form of social control
- The prison service may be seen as an external form of social control and so ensure people abide by the law.
- Coercion is the use of force to achieve a desired end. It may be physical or non-violent.
e.g. prison service has the power to restrict the liberty of a person. - Fear of punishment - deterrence (punishment is used as a threat to deter people from offending) Individual deterrence, general.
A prison sentence will ensure people are prevented from committing a further offence. - control theory - Walter Reckless argued that a combination of internal psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms.
describe how the police may be perceived as an external form of social control
- External social control may be defined as influences that persuade or compel a person to conform with rules so that they do not commit crime.
- The threat of police action, such as arrest and detention, serves as an external form of social control.
- Many people have a fear of punishment and all the consequences of being arrested by the police. It may result in a loss of a job, relationship or housing problems.
- If court proceedings follow, this may serve as a general deterrent to society.
- The shame or embarrassment of being arrested and questioned by the police may act as a method of external social control.
- police could be seen as using their power as coercion to achieve a desired result. This may include the threat of future punishment for rule breaking.
- police may act as a pressure to try and persuade or compel members of society to conform to the rules.
- Control theory - Walter Reckless - argued that a combination of internal psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms.
