AC 2.1: Explain forms of social control Flashcards
What is ‘social control’
controls & mechanisms that persuade or compel us to conform to norms and laws
what is internal social control?
regulating one’s own behavior in accordance with accepted norms and laws
why are internal social controls good?
they decrease the likelihood that we will deviate from social norms and laws.
what are the three forms of internal social control?
- rational ideology
- tradition
- internalization of social rules and morals.
describe rational ideology
compelled by conscience to follow legal rules and social norms.
The behaviour of groups/societies results from the behaviour of individuals (all exercise individual choice on whether to conform to the law)
describe tradition
Religion and culture ensure we’re socialised to accept and conform to values and norms of behaviour.
how does socialisation link to our acceptance of traditions?
understand social norms of behaviour: lifelong process of inheriting, interpreting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies.
how does tradition act as an internal form of social control?
we internalise traditions and conforming with them affirms identity/membership of community.
give an example of a tradition
- going to places of worship
- praying multiple times of day
describe ‘internalization of social rules and morals.’
people develop a psychological need or motive to conform to a set of shared norms.
socialisation – societies rules = our rules.
conformity is desirable (Durkheim collective conscience)
how does internalization of social rules and morals link to Freud.
superego – releases the defence mechanism of guilt to remind us not to break the law
what is external social control?
Influences around us that persuade or compel a person to conform with rules so that they do not commit crime.
what are the three forms of external social control?
- coercion
- fear of punishment
- control theory
describe ‘coercion’
the use of force/pressure to achieve social control
what are the two types of coercion?
- Physical coercion to ensure conformity e.g. death penalty, prison which deprives a person of their liberty
- Non-physical measures e.g. fines
give example of coercion
Agencies of social control (or coercion) e.g. police who have the power to restrict a person’s liberty by arresting suspects.
what are the two types of deterrence?
- individual deterrence
- general deterrence
describe ‘individual deterrence’
Courts impose formal punishment to deter offenders from committing further crimes
describe ‘general deterrence’
Seeing offenders punished deters others from offending
describe ‘control theory’
A group of theories that try to explain why most people don’t offend
how does control theory relate to internalisation
moral codes are internalised and individuals have a stake in their wider community. then individuals will voluntarily limit their propensity to commit criminal/deviant acts.
what is Toby’s theory
‘a stake in social conformity’ 1957
– individuals engaged in non-delinquent community activities felt they had too much to lose by joining delinquent groups. (they had a stake in conformity)
what is Hirsch’s theory
‘bonds of attachment’ 1969
– Social bonds between the individual & society encourage conformity. Stronger bonds = more likely to be law-abiding.
what were the 4 elements that made up the bonds of attachment between the individual and society
- Attachment (sensitivity & affection for others)
- Commitment (investment conventional society – stake in conformity)
- Involvement ( in society – limits opportunities for delinquency)
- Belief (extent to which the individual thinks they should obey norms / law)
what is Reckless theory
‘inner and outer containment’
– a combination of internal psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms.
what are external containments
Social influence of social groups, including laws of society & parental punishments, threats of arrest by police & formal punishments imposed by courts.
what are internal containments
Influence of parenting values & socialization help us to build self-control to resist the temptation to commit crime
