AC2.1 Explaining forms of social control Flashcards
Social control definition
The enforcement of conformity by society upon its members either by law or social pressure
Diff forms of Sanctions/punishment
Family, Police, Public eye, CJS overall, fines, signs
Why do people moral rules
Socialisation, not feeling alienated or excluded from community/family
Internal vs external social control
Internal control - morally right decision, inside of us, self-control
External control - social agencies + institutions e.g CJS
INTERNAL FORM
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of why people follow social rules
what is superego
what is id
describe internalization
Superego - Moral compass, restraints the id - without the superego strongly developed, we would commit crime
Id - our animal, selfish instincts
Internalisation of social rules and morality - Superego and culture start outside of us - either parents rules or values of society and are internalised as we grow up
INTERNAL FORM
Describe Hirschi social bond theory
What were 4 key elements
Limitations of theory:
Conforming due to bonds to society: breaking the law when bonds are weakened or broken
Why people do not commit crimes
4 key elements:
1. Attachment e.g family, Accountability created by attachment
2. Commitment e.g education
3. Involvement e.g school/work
4. Belief
Limitations:
- Over simplifies human behaviour: can have community attachment but still engage in criminal behvaiour
- Doesn’t consider structural issues such as poverty or discrimination
EXTERNAL FORM
Parenting as a form of social control - Gottfredson + Hirschi
3 things parents should do
Parenting - Gottfredson + Hirschi
3 things parents should do to prevent having a criminal child:
Involve themselves in their teenagers lives by spending time with them
Take an interest in their children’s school and friends and what they do out of school
Show strong disapproval of criminal behaviour and explain the consequences
EXTERNAL FORM - CJS
Criminal Justice system as a form of social control
Police, CPS, Judges and Magistrates, Prison service
- Coercion: action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats
- Negative sanctions used by CJS is a form of coercion - anyone who breaks law is forced in to prison to stop offending
- Fear of punishment: deterrent for criminals
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL Walter Reckless - ‘containment theory’
Describe 2 parts of containment
People have internal containment e.g self-control and external containment e.g parental and teacher discipline
These factors play a role in the likelihood that someone will break the law
EXTERNAL FORM
Heidensohn - Feminism - female offending
We live in a patriachal society. Harder for females to offend as they are controlled by men. Not enough time. Women are also busy with triple burden so once again no time to commit crime.
