AC2.1 Explain forms of social control

Question 1

What is Social control?

Answer 1

an action that tries to persuade or compel people to conform to society’s norms, rules, laws and expectations.

Question 2

What are the two types of social control?

Answer 2

internal social control
external social control

Question 3

What is internal social control?

Answer 3

the process of internalising the norms and values of society and accepting them as valid

Question 4

What is external social control?

Answer 4

society’s efforts to ensure we follow the laws/rules as well as bring those who ‘stepped outside the lines’ back in.

Question 5

What are types of internal social control?

Answer 5

Rational ideology
Socialisation - culture, religion, tradition
Socialisation - internalisation of social rules and morality

Question 6

What is Rational Ideology?

Answer 6

• its an idea or belief to achieve social control.
• a person’s conscience guides them to reach a solution to follow laws and norms.
• relates to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory = we conform to social expectations and norms because our superego tells us to.
• our superego tells us what is right and wrong and inflicts guilt feelings on us.
• the superego develops through early primary socialisation and becomes an internalised ‘nagging parent’.

Question 7

What is Socialisation - culture, religion and tradition?

Answer 7

• the culture which we belong in becomes a part of us through socialisation.
• we accept and conform to its values, norms and traditions as a way of being accepted into the community.
• religion, culture and upbringing ensures that we do not break the law.
• Christianity - ten commandments - ‘do not kill’, ‘do not steal’, ‘love thy neighbour’.

Question 8

What is Socialisation - internalisation of social rules and morals?

Answer 8

• our conscience and cultural traditions become part of out inner-self.
• through the process of primary and secondary socialisation we internalise these rules and norms from our parents or from wider social groups and institutions.
• society’s rules and moral codes become our own personal rules and codes.
• we gain a moral compass and as a result we conform willingly to social norms through rational ideology.

Question 9

What are the types of External Social Control?

Answer 9

• agencies of social control
  -CJS agencies of social control
• Coercion
• fear of punishment