AC2.1 Explain forms of social control Flashcards
What is social control?
Social control involves persuading or forcing people to conform to society’s norms, laws, and expectations to maintain order
What are internal forms of social control?
Internal controls come from within an individual, shaping self-discipline and morality to conform to societal norms
How does Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory relate to social control?
•Our personality consists of the id, ego, and superego.
•The superego acts as a “nagging parent,” telling us what is right and wrong.
•It develops through socialisation and creates guilt if we break societal rules.
What role does tradition and culture play in internal social control?
•Through socialisation, we adopt norms and traditions as part of our identity.
•Example: Muslims fasting during Ramadan due to religious beliefs.
What is internalisation of social rules and morality?
•Over time, external rules (e.g., parents’ rules, cultural norms) become part of our inner self.
•Example: A child raised in a strict home learns self-discipline and follows laws instinctively.
What is rational ideology in social control?
It refers to how we internalise laws and social rules, helping us distinguish between right and wrong.
What are external forms of social control?
They come from outside influences, such as law enforcement or institutions, to make individuals conform.
What are agencies of social control?
Organisations that enforce social control, such as:
•Family (parents imposing discipline).
•Schools (teachers using
rewards and punishments).
•Police and Courts (legal sanctions).
What does Skinner’s Operant Learning Theory say about social control?
•Negative sanctions (punishments) discourage undesirable behaviour.
•Positive sanctions (rewards) encourage acceptable behaviour.
•Example: Good behaviour in prison leads to privileges.
How does the Criminal Justice System enforce social control?
It uses formal sanctions to ensure obedience, including:
•Police: Stop, search, arrest suspects.
•Judges/Magistrates: Sentence offenders.
•Prison Service: Imprison offenders, apply punishments (e.g., solitary confinement).
•CPS: Prosecute suspects in court.
What is coercion in social control?
The use of force or threats to prevent crime.
Example: Sending someone to prison.
How does fear of punishment help maintain social control?
•Fear of being caught or imprisoned deters people from committing crimes.
•This links to Right Realism, which supports deterrence as a key crime prevention method.
