AC 2.1

Question 1

What is social control?

Answer 1

Any strategies for preventing deviant human behaviour

It encourages conformity to norms, values, and morals.

It persuades members of society to these rules due to the consequences faced by the individual if they don’t

Question 2

What are the two forms of social control?

Answer 2

• Internal: norms, values, and socialisation
• External: police, prisons, and criminal justice system

Question 3

According to psychodynamic theory, why do we conform to society’s expectations?

Internal forms of control

Answer 3

Our superego tells us to do so

Question 4

What is the function of the superego?

Answer 4

To restrain the selfish, animalistic urges of the id

Tells us what is right and wrong and gives us feelings of guilt when we make the wrong choices

Question 5

How is the superego developed?

Answer 5

Through our socialisation process

Question 6

How do traditions and culture influence behavior?

Answer 6

They help to normalize our behaviors and affirm identity

Question 7

What ideology applies to traditions and culture in internal forms of social control?

Answer 7

Rational ideology

Internalising social rules and the use of them to tell us what is right and wrong within that society

Question 8

What does external forms of control refer to?

Answer 8

External from yourself

It’s others around you that pose sanctions for certain behaviours

Question 9

What are the agencies of external social control?

Answer 9

• The family
• Peer groups
• Education system
• Religious organizations

Question 10

What is included in external forms of control?

Answer 10

Skinner’s operant conditioning theory

Punishment acts as a deterrent for unwanted behaviours
- thought of rewards encourages positive behaviours

Question 11

What organizations in the Criminal Justice System enforce social control?

Answer 11

• Police forces
• CPS
• Judges and magistrates
• Prison service
• Probation service

Built to regulate and exercise controls to reinforce norms and punish deviancy

Question 12

What is coercion in the context of social control?

Answer 12

Sending people to prison or using physical/psychological acts to deter offending

Question 13

What is the concept of deterrence?

Answer 13

Causing fear of punishments to stop criminality

Question 14

What are the two types of deterrence?

Answer 14

• Individual deterrence
• General deterrence

Question 15

What is individual deterrence?

Answer 15

A punishment imposed on offenders to deter and prevent further offences

Conditional discharges and suspended sentences are very effective here

Question 16

What is general deterrence?

Answer 16

Fear of punishment that prevents others committing the crime

Seen in very (potentially overly) harsh punishments to prevent the public committing the same crimes

Question 17

What do internal controls include?

Answer 17

• Rational ideology (1)
• Traditions (2)
• Internalisation of social rules (3)

1) Own rational belief normally found from social context - can include feelings of guilt or anxiety
2) Traditions prevent deviancy and ensure conformity
3) On going process learning specific norms and values depending on social settings and social values

Question 18

Who are the two control theorists mentioned?

Answer 18

• Hirschi
• Reckless

Question 19

What does Hirschi argue?

Answer 19

Criminal activity occurs when the individual attachment to society is weak/weakened

Individuals bond to society has 4 elements

Question 20

What are the four elements of Hirschi’s bond to society?

Answer 20

• Attachment
• Commitment
• Involvement
• Beliefs

Question 21

What is attachment?

According to Hirschi

Answer 21

The extent to which we care about other peoples opinions and wishes

More attached to others we are, more likely we are to worry about consequences of breaking norms and values within that society

Question 22

What is commitment?

According to Hirschi

Answer 22

Refers to personal investments made in life

More committed we are to a conventional lifestyle, less likely we are to commit a crime that risks the loss of it

Question 23

What is involvement?

According to Hirschi

Answer 23

Describes a persons level of activity or business interests

More involved we are with law abiding activities (youth clubs etc), less likely we are to be involved in criminal ones

Question 24

What are beliefs?

According to Hirschi

Answer 24

Refers to a person conviction that they should follow the rules

If we are socialised into the belief that its right to obey the law, less likely we are to break it

Question 25

What is the role of parenting in criminal activity?

Answer 25

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, self control is a major cause of delinquency resulting from poor socialisation and inconsistent or absent parental discipline

Question 26

What should parent’s do to prevent criminal activity?

Answer 26

According to Riley and Shaw, they should;
- Involve themselves in their teenagers lives
- Take interests in their school
- Show strong disapproval of criminal behaviour

Question 27

What does Reckless argue?

Answer 27

Theory of containment suggests an individuals behaviour is influenced by a combo of internal and external factors

2 types of containment that act as a protective shielf against enagaging in deviant or risky acts

Question 28

What is inner containment according to Reckless?

Answer 28

Individuals’ internal controls like values, beliefs, and self-concept

Prevents deviancy thru a strong sense of self and a clear understanding of right and wrong
- Strong inner containmentt = more likely to resist negative peer pressure or temptations to engage in deviancy

Question 29

What is outer containment?

Answer 29

External factors that prevent deviant behaviour, such as social norms and laws

Reinforces a individuals inner containment by providing a clear set of expectations and consequences for behaviour
- strong outer containment = less likely to engage in deviancy due to fear of punishment or disapproval from others

Question 30

How does feminism relate to social control?

Answer 30

According to Heidensohn, a patriarchal society controls females more closely, making it harder for them to offend

Carlen found that females who do offend had often failed to form an attachment to parents due to abuse or being brought up[ in care