AC2.1 - Explain forms of social control

Question 1

What does internal forms of social control mean?

Answer 1

As people in our society, we know we shouldn’t steal. This behavioural norm becomes internalised. Our conscience tells you its wrong, we conform to rules because our self-respect demands it. Internal forms regulate our own behaviour in accordance with the accepted form

Question 2

What is social control?

Answer 2

Any strategies for preventing deviant human behaviour. We encourage everyone in society to conform to the law and any course of action that helps to achieve this is a form of social control

Question 3

What are the 3 types of internal forms of social control?

Answer 3

Rational ideology, tradition and internalisation of social rules and morality

Question 4

What is rational ideology? (Internal)

Answer 4

This is an idea or belief to achieve social control. Your conscience, with feelings of guilty, anxiety or worry within, guide you to reach a solution or follow laws and rules

Question 5

What is tradition? (Internal)

Answer 5

It may be your own traditions, customs or norms that ensure you conform to rules. Religion e.g., 10 commandments say ‘thou shall not steal’ so a believe wouldn’t commit that crime. Culture or upbringing also ensures that you don’t break the law e.g., not eating red meat on Good Friday

Question 6

What is internalisation of social rules and morality? (Internal)

Answer 6

The internalisation of social rules and morality is working out what is the right thing to do and therefore knowing what is right or wrong based upon social values. For example, not eating all the biscuits but leaving some for others, or not queue jumping and waiting in line

Question 7

What is the moral conscience? (Internal)

Answer 7

According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, we conform to society’s expectations an obey it’s rules because of our superego telling us to. Along with the id and ego, the superego forms part of our personality. Our superego tells us what is right and wrong and inflicts guilty feelings on us if we fail to do as it urges/
Id: Pleasure principle
Ego: Reality principle - actions have consequences
Superego: Morality principle - inner voice and sense of guilty developed through early socialisation. If underdeveloped, cannot control id which can lead to crime

Question 8

What does external forms of social control mean?

Answer 8

External pressures persuade or compel members of society to conform to the rules. For example, your teachers may set detention or extra work if you fail to hand in homework. They are trying to ensure you do not do it again
Informal social control at home: being told off, grounding, privileges taken away

Question 9

What is an obvious and visible form of social control?

Answer 9

Police officers, judges and prisons are the most evidence agents of external social control. The mere presence of the police may ensure that vast majority of people behave. However, those who commit crimes are arrested by the police. Under PACE 1984, the police have powers of detention on ultimately prisons will try to bring about control. They will use both coercion and fear of punishment as methods to ensure people abide by the law

Question 10

What is coercion? (External)

Answer 10

• Persuading someone to do something by force or threat
• Can be physical or non-violent e.g., bodily injury or strikes/boycotts
• Corporal punishment are illegal here but legal in other countries

Question 11

What is fear of punishment? (External)

Answer 11

Punishment as a threat to stop people: deterrence (individual and general)

Question 12

What is individual deterrence? (External)

Answer 12

Punishment imposed on offenders in order to determine or prevent them from committing further crimes. For example, a suspended prison sentence or conditional discharge, whether our other, more serious consequences for further offending

Question 13

What is general deterrence? (External)

Answer 13

Fear of punishment that prevents the general public from committing simliar crimes. For example, a lengthy prison sentence or heavy financial penalty allows others to see the potential consequence and are deterred from committing the same action. Policies that promote this are known as ‘getting tough on crime’. These are: custodial sentences, mandatory minimums - life sentence for murder, 7 years for a 3rd drug offence, 3 years for a 3rd burglary

Question 14

What is control theory? (External)

Answer 14

Control theories try to explain why people don’t commit crimes. They support the view that people require nurturing in order to develop attachments all bonds that are key in producing internal controls, such as conscience. According to this view, crime is a result of insufficient attachment and commitment to others

Question 15

What are formal external social controls?

Answer 15

• ASBOs
• Probation
• Death penalty
• Fines

Question 16

What are informal external social controls?

Answer 16

• Badmouthed
• Unfriended
• Grounded
• Phone confiscated

Question 17

What are Hirschi’s bonds of attachment?

Answer 17

Delinquent acts occur when an individual’s bond to society is weak or broken

Question 18

What are the internal bonds of attachment?

Answer 18

Attachment - the more attached we are to others, the more we care about their opinion of us, the more we will respect their norms unless likely we will be to break them especially if parents or teachers

Beliefs - if we have been socialised to believe it is right to obey the law, we are less likely to break it.

Question 19

What are the external bonds of attachment?

Answer 19

Commitment - how committed aer we to conventional goals such as succeeding in education and getting a good job - the less time and energy we have forgetting involved in criminal acts. Hirschi believes organisations e.g., youth clubs keep people from offending

Involvement - The more involved we are in conventional, law-abiding activities like studying or participating in sports, the less time and energy we will have for getting involve in criminal ones. Hirschi believes organisations such as youth clubs to keep young people off the street and involved in the community