AC 2.1- Explain Forms of Social Control

Question 1

What is meant by the term social control?

Answer 1

Any strategy for preventing deviant human behaviour or any action that compels people to form to the rules/laws in society

Question 2

What is meant by internal forms of social control?

Answer 2

Our conscience or something inside us that tells us an act is wrong, we’ve been brought up not to and our self respect demands it

Question 3

What is rational ideology?

Answer 3

Idea to achieve social control, conscience or feelings of guilt/anxiety tell you to follow the law or rules

Question 4

What is meant by tradition?

Answer 4

Customs or norms that ensure we conform to the rules

Question 5

What are some examples of traditions?

Answer 5

Ten commandments, golden rule, upbringing/socialization and manners (saying please and thank you)

Question 6

What is meant by internalization of social rules and morality and what are some examples?

Answer 6

Learning what is the right thing to do and therefore knowing what is right or wrong based on social values, examples include not queue jumping or not cheating in an exam

Question 7

Who said we conform to society’s expectations because of our superego?

Answer 7

Freud, psychoanalytic theory

Question 8

What is the role of the ID?

Answer 8

Pleasure principle, developed at birth, based on desire and tries to get what it wants, e.g. food, sex

Question 9

What is the role of the EGO?

Answer 9

Reality principle, develops at around age 2, makes us aware our actions bring consequences

Question 10

What is the role of the SUPEREGO?

Answer 10

Morality principle, acts as a moral compass on what is right and wrong, keeps other elements in balance, develops from age 5, allows us to exercise self control

Question 11

What are external forms of social control?

Answer 11

Things outside of our own mind or control that persuade or compel us to conform to the rules

Question 12

What are some examples of informal social control?

Answer 12

Being grounded, shouted at, badmouthed

Question 13

What are some examples of formal social control?

Answer 13

Prisons, fines, death penalty, ASBO

Question 14

Describe what is meant by coercion

Answer 14

Can be physical such as prisons, injury or the death penalty, or non-violent such as strikes protests or no co-operation, Prisons can use a loss of liberty as a threat

Question 15

What word can be used to describe the fear of punishment?

Answer 15

Deterrence

Question 16

What are the two types of deterrence?

Answer 16

Individual and general

Question 17

Describe individual deterrence

Answer 17

Punishment on offenders to stop them committing future crimes, such as a suspended prison sentence (court can give another sentence for original crime if breached) or conditional discharge (If terms are breached then offender given prison time)

Question 18

Describe general deterrence

Answer 18

Prevents others/ordinary people from committing similar crimes, for example seeing a hefty fine or a lengthy prison sentence can put people off

Question 19

What are two policies that promote general deterrence?

Answer 19

Mandatory minimum life sentence (e.g. murder), 3 strikes and you’re out (3 convictions for violent crimes in the US, likely to be given death penalty)

Question 20

What is a control theory?

Answer 20

Explains why people don’t commit crimes, say due to nurturing and attachments formed we do not commit crime

Question 21

Who developed the idea of bonds of attachment and what does this mean?

Answer 21

Hirschi, delinquent acts occur because an individuals bond to society is weak or broken

Question 22

What are the 4 elements of bonds of attachment?

Answer 22

Attachment, commitment, involvement, beliefs

Question 23

How does attachment affect our behaviour?

Answer 23

More attached we are to others, more we care about their opinions of us, likely to respect their norms (e.g. parents, friends & teachers)

Question 24

How does commitment affect our behaviour?

Answer 24

Commitment to conventional goals like education and jobs makes us have more to loose, therefore we are less likely to offend at the risk of doing so

Question 25

How does involvement affect our behaviour?

Answer 25

Involvement with normal, law abiding activities makes us have less time to be involved in crime, youth clubs help keep children out of crime

Question 26

How do beliefs affect our behaviour?

Answer 26

If we are socialized to believe it is right to obey the law and respect others, we are less likely to offend

Question 27

What did Walter Reckless say about containment?

Answer 27

Emphasizes importance of socialization, internal containment, building self control to resist temptation, external containment, things like parental discipline