AC2.1 Explain forms of social control

Question 1

What are the internal forms of social control?

Answer 1

• rational ideology
• tradition
• internalization of social rules and morality

Question 2

What are the external forms of social control?

Answer 2

• coercion

- fear of punishment

Question 3

Explain how tradition and culture acts as internal forms of social control

Answer 3

• the culture we belong to becomes part of us through socialization
• we come to accept its norms and values a part of our identity
• e.g. believers follow religious traditions such as Muslims fasting during Ramadan
• Conforming to traditions is important to developing our identity and being accepted as a member in a community

Question 4

How does internalization of social rules and morality act as internal control

Answer 4

• Our superego and the traditions that we follow become part of our personality
• parents rules and values or those of our social group become internalized
• society’s moral rules and codes become our own
• as a result we willingly conform to social norms

Question 5

What is rational ideology?

Answer 5

• Where we internalize social rules and use them to tell us what’s right and wrong
• this enables us to stay within the law

Question 6

Explain coercion as a form of external social control

Answer 6

• Coercion uses the threat of force in order to make someone comply
• force may involve physical or psychological violence, or other forms of pressure

Question 7

How does fear of punishment act as a form of external social control?

Answer 7

• it makes people conform to laws
• imposes the threat of force to make you abide by laws
• if you commit an offence you could be arrested, charged, convicted and jailed against your will
• right realists argue that fear of being caught will ensure people follow the law, so fear acts as deterrent

Question 8

What is control theory

Answer 8

• questions why people obey the law
• Hirschi suggests that people obey the law because they are controlled by their bonds to society that keep them from deviating
• Hirschi argues delinquent acts occur when an individuals bond to society is weak or broken

Question 9

According to Hirschi, what are the 4 elements of an individuals bonds to society

Answer 9

Attachment- the more attached we are to others, the more we will care about their opinion of us, the more we will respect their norms and the less likely we are to break them
Commitment- the more we are committed to a conventional lifestyle, the more we risk by committing crime so instead we conform
Involvement- the more we are involved in conventional law abiding activities like studying and sports, the less time and energy we have for crime
Beliefs- if we are socialised to believe it is right to obey the law, we are less likely to break it