2.1- explain forms of social control Flashcards
Define social control
Persuade/force people to conform to norms/laws/expectations, to enable society to function smoothly
Define internal forms of social control
Controls from within ourselves (self control)
How do internal forms of social control work
Lead us to conform to norms/rules of society as we feel its the right thing to do
Our conscience regulates our behaviour
We internalise our thoughts- right from wrong
Examples of internal forms of social control
Superego
Tradition/culture
Socialisation
Rational ideology
Explain the Freud link for internal forms of social control
Psychoanalytic theory- id, ego and superego
Tell us right from wrong- guilt when we don’t behave
Develop in early socialisation
Id= impulsive/animal instinct
Superego develops= more self control
Explain tradition and culture as a form of internal social control with an example
Becomes part of us through socialisation
We accept norms/tradition as part of our identity so we can be accepted by community
(Muslim tradition of fasting)
Explain socialisation as a form of internal social control
We internalise rules from those we socialise with so they become our own (parents/teachers)
Superego/traditions start from outside things such as parents
Explain rational ideology as a form of internal social control
We internalise social rules, make rational decisions based on what we feel is right/wrong (feeling anxious about something may stop you doing it), helps us be law abiding
Define external forms of social control
Features of society/groups in society that ensure we conform to social rules/morals
What’s the case study/2 people who are used for rational ideologyand what did they say
Clark and Cornish- say crime is rational choice, purpose/intention of benefiting offender
Examples of types of external forms of social control
Agencies of social control
Criminal justice system
Coercion
Fear of punishment
What are agencies of social control
Organisations/institutions that impose rules for us to obey such as expectations
Make us behave in certain way
How does the criminal justice system act as an external form of social control
Use formal legal sanctions to ensure conformity of laws
Also use positive sanctions (privileges for good behaviour)
Examples of agencies of social control and what they do
Police- powers under PACE
Judges/magistrates- sentence guilty, bail
Prison service- detain prisoners, offer further punishment
CPS- charge/prosecute suspects
Explain coercion as a form of external social control with example
Change someone’s behaviour using threat/force (physical/psychological)
E.g. suspended sentence
Explain fear of punishment as a form of social control with example
Is what coercive control relys on, acts as deterrent
E.g. fear of prison, deprivation of freedom
What theory links to fear of punishment
Right realism- say threat of prison is enough to deter them
What are the aims of control theories
Consider why people commit crime, what stops them, why they are conforming to rules
Name 3 control theories
- travis hirschi (social bond theory)
- parenting
- feminism
Explain travis hirschis social bond theory
Says people are controlled by their bond to society, more likely to be deviant when bond with society broken/weakened
Says delinquency is influenced by 4 factors
- attachment
- commitment
- involvement
- belief
Explain the 4 influences of delinquency, stated by hirschi
Attachment- caring for others/respect= less likely to be criminal
Commitment- future/education/work- less likely to commit crime would lower social standing
Involvement- activities/clubs/groups= less likely to be criminal
Belief- that we are socialised to hold, believe crime is bad/cultural goals= not commit crime due to disapproval
Explain parenting as a social control theory
Plays a role in beliefs/bond to society
Riley + shaw- lack of parent presence contribute to delinquency, only able to contain children if consistently present
Parenting is influential
Walter reckless containment theory
He looks at why people obey law given pressures/pulls of society
May people are immune to pulls due to:
- inner containment- family/upbringing (goal orientation)
- outer containment- peers/laws/parent discipline
Explain feminism as a social control theory
Female offender numbers lower than male- control of women make it harder to offend (domestic chores leave little time)
Female offenders may have failed to form attachment to parent
