AC 2.1 Flashcards
What is social control?
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
What are the two forms of social control?
- Internal: norms, values, and socialisation
- External: police, prisons, and criminal justice system
According to psychodynamic theory, why do we conform to society’s expectations?
Internal forms of control
Our superego tells us to do so
What is the function of the superego?
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
How is the superego developed?
Through our socialisation process
How do traditions and culture influence behavior?
They help to normalize our behaviors and affirm identity
What ideology applies to traditions and culture in internal forms of social control?
Rational ideology
Internalising social rules and the use of them to tell us what is right and wrong within that society
What does external forms of control refer to?
External from yourself
It’s others around you that pose sanctions for certain behaviours
What are the agencies of external social control?
- The family
- Peer groups
- Education system
- Religious organizations
What is included in external forms of control?
Skinner’s operant conditioning theory
Punishment acts as a deterrent for unwanted behaviours
- thought of rewards encourages positive behaviours
What organizations in the Criminal Justice System enforce social control?
- Police forces
- CPS
- Judges and magistrates
- Prison service
- Probation service
Built to regulate and exercise controls to reinforce norms and punish deviancy
What is coercion in the context of social control?
Sending people to prison or using physical/psychological acts to deter offending
What is the concept of deterrence?
Causing fear of punishments to stop criminality
What are the two types of deterrence?
- Individual deterrence
- General deterrence
What is individual deterrence?
A punishment imposed on offenders to deter and prevent further offences
Conditional discharges and suspended sentences are very effective here
What is general deterrence?
Fear of punishment that prevents others committing the crime
Seen in very (potentially overly) harsh punishments to prevent the public committing the same crimes
What do internal controls include?
- 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
Who are the two control theorists mentioned?
- Hirschi
- Reckless
What does Hirschi argue?
Criminal activity occurs when the individual attachment to society is weak/weakened
Individuals bond to society has 4 elements
What are the four elements of Hirschi’s bond to society?
- Attachment
- Commitment
- Involvement
- Beliefs
What is attachment?
According to Hirschi
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
What is commitment?
According to Hirschi
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
What is involvement?
According to Hirschi
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
What are beliefs?
According to Hirschi
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
What is the role of parenting in criminal activity?
According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, self control is a major cause of delinquency resulting from poor socialisation and inconsistent or absent parental discipline
What should parent’s do to prevent criminal activity?
According to Riley and Shaw, they should;
- Involve themselves in their teenagers lives
- Take interests in their school
- Show strong disapproval of criminal behaviour
What does Reckless argue?
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
What is inner containment according to Reckless?
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
What is outer containment?
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
How does feminism relate to social control?
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
