2.1 Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 internal forms of social control?
A
- rational ideology
- tradition
- internalisation of social rules and morality
2
Q
what are the 2 forms of external social control?
A
- coercion
- fear of punishment
3
Q
Explain rational ideology as an internal form of social control
A
- This is an idea or belief to achieve social control such as an individual’s conscience, feelings of guilt, anxiety or worry from within.
- It guides people to follow laws and rules of their own volition (choosing). It’s an ideology based on the assumption that individuals choose a course of action that is most in line with their personal preferences. T
- these choices and preferences may be a result of upbringing. Your guilt is how, subconsciously, you’re taking personal responsibility for your misbehaviour.
- For example, stealing a pen from school is something people would not do as a person’s conscience guides them to follow the rules, creating anxiety at the thought of doing it.
4
Q
Explain tradition as an internal form of social control
A
- This could relate to religion or culture.
- It may be that a person’s upbringing in a religion or certain culture ensures they follow rules and as a result are less likely to break laws.
- For example, religions which ban consumption of alcohol. Following these traditions becomes part of a person’s socialisation into a law-abiding culture.
5
Q
Explain internalisation of social rules and morality as an internal form of social control
A
- The rules and traditions we follow become part of our inner self and personality, but they start out as things outside of us.
- The internalisation of social rules and morality is working out what is the right thing to do and therefore knowing what is right or wrong.
- This in turn is based upon social values built from our socialisation through parents and tradition/cultures.
- For example, queue jumping, is something most people will not do as they believe the right thing to do. Is wait your turn. This internal process is all rooted in our socialisation and this begins at a very early stage.
6
Q
Explain how police use coercion as an external form of social control
A
- Fear of punishment by the police (such as a financial penalty or a caution) or a consequence of police involvement (such as court proceedings) acts as an individual and general deterrence to prevent people from breaking the law.
- The police have rights of arrest and detention mainly under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
7
Q
Explain how police use fear of punishment as an external form of social control
A
- The police can act as a general deterrent.
- They have the power to stop and search an individual they have a suspicion of
- why is this a deterrence? They act as a general deterrent as potential offenders may know someone who has had dealings with the police and could therefore avoid criminal activity.
8
Q
Explain how prisons use coercion as an external form of social control
A
- HM Prison Service provides coercion or force to achieve the desired result of incarceration by enforcing a detention period on the offender.
9
Q
Explain how prison use fear of punishment as an external form of social control
A
- Prison also acts as a deterrent, as some people fear it why?
It also acts as an individual deterrent why?
10
Q
Explain how courts use coercion as an external form of social control
A
- The Ministry of Justice (via the magistrates and judges) uses sentencing policies to use coercion to control crime
- For example, mandatory minimum sentences such as life for murder, 7 years for 3rd drug offence and 3 years for 3rd burglary
11
Q
Explain how courts use fear of punishment as an external form of social control
A
- The courts will impose sentences to prevent people from committing further crimes for example: suspended sentences
- The Ministry of Justice (via judges and magistrates) use sentencing policies to use the fear of punishment to control crime for example: fines
12
Q
Explain how probation uses coercion as an external form of social control
A
- Probation uses coercion to achieve a desired result using a threat of future punishment for the law breaking.
13
Q
Explain how probation uses fear of punishment as an external form of social control
A
- Probation orders could be seen as a general deterrence by members of society.
- This includes the fear that a probation order be given together with the restrictions and conditions it imposes what kind of restrictions & conditions?
- People can envisage the potential consequences of breaking the law.
- There is an individual deterrence with a continued threat of custody for future breaking of the law, including a breach of the terms of the order.
14
Q
What is coercion as an external form of social control?
A
- An external form of social control where individuals are compelled to act in a certain way through force or the threat of force
15
Q
What is individual deterrence?
A
- Individual deterrence refers to the specific effect of a punishment aimed at discouraging an individual offender from reoffending in the future.
16
Q
What is general deterence?
A
- General deterrence refers to the use of punishment as a means to discourage the general public from committing similar crimes by creating a fear of legal consequences.
17
Q
What is fear of punishment as an external form of social control?
A
- the deterrent effect that punishment, particularly the threat of it, can have on individuals, preventing them from committing crimes
18
Q
Explain Travis Hirschi’s control theory
A
- Travis Hirschi stresses the importance of the individual’s bond to society in determining conforming behaviour.
- There are four key bonds a person that must be formed to prevent them from committing a crime:
Attachment
Commitment
Involvement
Belief - If they form these bonds they will not commit crime and therefore abide by the law.
19
Q
Explain Walter C. Reckless’s control theory
A
- Walter C. Reckless argued that a combination of internal psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms and therefore abide by the law.
- Inner containments come from our upbringing especially the family.
Outer containment refers to the influence of social groups including the laws of society in which we live.
