A.C 3.1 Flashcards
What is the role of agencies in social control?
Agencies in social control are institutions or groups in society that work to enforce societal norms, laws, and expectations, ensuring individuals behave in ways that are acceptable to society. They help maintain order and prevent deviant behavior.
What is formal social control?
Formal social control refers to mechanisms used by official institutions (e.g., the criminal justice system, laws, regulations) to ensure individuals follow societal rules. This includes institutions such as police, courts, prisons, and government.
What is informal social control?
Informal social control refers to the socialization processes and societal expectations that influence behavior without formal laws or regulations. This is enforced by family, peers, and community, and includes norms, customs, and moral expectations.
How do the police function as an agency of social control?
The police are a primary agency of formal social control. They enforce laws, maintain public order, prevent and investigate crime, and arrest individuals who violate societal norms, ensuring that individuals conform to legal standards.
How do the courts contribute to social control?
The courts play a critical role in social control by interpreting the law, adjudicating cases, and imposing legal sanctions on those who break the law. The judiciary ensures that justice is served and that offenders are held accountable.
What role does the prison system play in social control?
Prisons serve as a tool for incapacitation and rehabilitation, keeping offenders away from society to prevent further crimes. They also attempt to reform offenders through rehabilitation programs, such as educational or therapeutic interventions.
What is the role of social services in social control?
Social services help maintain social control by providing support to individuals who may be at risk of offending, such as through child welfare, family counseling, and addiction treatment. They aim to reduce risk factors for crime and support rehabilitation.
How does the family contribute to social control?
The family plays a crucial role in informal social control by instilling values, norms, and expectations in children. Parents guide behavior, teach morality, and set boundaries to prevent deviant behavior and encourage societal conformity.
What role does education play in social control?
Education serves as a form of informal social control by teaching children societal norms, rules, and values. Schools instill discipline, promote respect for authority, and encourage social behavior that aligns with societal expectations.
How do peer groups influence social control?
Peer groups exert informal social control by influencing behavior through group norms, expectations, and peer pressure. They can encourage conformity to social rules, or in some cases, promote deviant behavior, depending on the group dynamics.
How does religion function in social control?
Religion serves as an agent of informal social control by promoting moral behavior and adherence to religious teachings. Religious institutions encourage followers to adhere to ethical standards, avoid sinful behavior, and contribute to social cohesion.
What role do media play in social control?
The media act as an agent of informal social control by shaping societal attitudes, influencing public opinion, and reinforcing social norms. Media portrayals of crime and punishment can influence how people perceive crime and what behaviors are deemed acceptable or deviant.
How do local communities contribute to social control?
Local communities play a role in informal social control by maintaining social norms, offering support, and monitoring behavior. Neighbors may intervene when deviant behavior occurs, offering informal sanctions or guidance to encourage conformity.
What is the role of the government in social control?
The government enacts and enforces laws, policies, and regulations that shape formal social control. It allocates resources to institutions like the police, courts, and prisons to maintain social order, prevent crime, and protect citizens’ rights.
How do laws function in social control?
Laws are formal rules established by society to regulate behavior and maintain order. They provide a clear framework for acceptable conduct and specify punishments for deviant behavior, ensuring that individuals conform to social expectations.
How does social control vary in different societies?
Social control can vary across societies based on cultural norms, values, legal systems, and institutional structures. What is considered deviant behavior in one society might be acceptable in another, leading to different forms and agencies of control.
What is the difference between formal and informal social control?
Formal social control involves official institutions such as the police, courts, and prisons that enforce laws, while informal social control relies on socialization and pressure from family, peers, and community to guide behavior.
How do the police influence informal social control?
The police influence informal social control by setting examples through their actions and decisions in the community. They help reinforce social norms by addressing minor offenses, mediating conflicts, and showing community members the consequences of deviant behavior.
Can social control be too harsh?
Yes, overly harsh social control can lead to issues such as discrimination, oppression, and injustice, especially when laws or social norms are applied unfairly. This can lead to resentment, rebellion, or a lack of trust in agencies of control.
How do agencies of social control work together?
Agencies of social control often work in collaboration to maintain social order. For example, the police may work with social services to address issues like domestic violence, while schools and families coordinate to prevent juvenile delinquency.
