AC2.1 Forms of Social Control

Question 1

How does imprisonment act as an external form of social control?

Answer 1

• Enforcing societal norms and laws through deterrence, retribution and societal protection.
• Deters crime by discouraging society from offending and by preventing reoffending through fear of punishment.
• Ensures public safety through incapacitating offenders, serves as retribution, reinforces societal values.
• Can aim to rehabilitate offenders through education and therapy, effectiveness debated.

Question 2

Rational ideology (internal)

Answer 2

making decisions based on reason and logic eg. choosing not to steal as understand the harm it causes others and consequence to society.

Question 3

Tradition (internal)

Answer 3

customs and practices that guide behaviour, “it’s the way things have always been done” eg. Celebrating national holidays even with no laws.

Question 4

Internalisation of social rules and morality (internal)

Answer 4

follow and internalise rules without being told, sense of what is morally right and wrong eg. feeling guilty about lying as it is wrong, to due to fear of punishment.

Question 5

Coercion (external)

Answer 5

forcing someone to follow the rules or behave in a certain way, often through threats or actual force which can be physical (police action) or non physical (threat of losing job)
example - police officer arresting someone for breaking law

Question 6

Fear of punishment (external)

Answer 6

• fear of consequences if one breaks the rules or law. These punishments could include fines, imprisonment or social ostracism.
• the knowledge that their are penalties for certain actions acts as deterrent. e.g. not committing crime cuz of fear of going jail.

Question 7

Control theory (Hirschi)

Answer 7

• People refrain from deviant behaviour due to bonds or connections they have to society.
• The 4 things included in bonds are attachment, commitment, involvement, belief.

Question 8

Attachment (control theory)

Answer 8

• The emotional and social ties individuals have to people and institutions e.g family and friends, school.
• Strong attachments lead to conformity as individuals care about opinions and reactions of the around them.

Question 9

Commitment (control theory)

Answer 9

• Individuals invest time, energy and resources into certain activities like education or career.
• Fear of losing what they’ve worked for deters them from breaking the law.

Question 10

Involvement (control theory)

Answer 10

• Busy individuals who are actively involved in conventional activities e.g. work, sport, volunteering, have less time and opportunity to engage in deviant behaviour.

Question 11

Belief (control theory)

Answer 11

• Strong belief in values and norms of society encourages law-abiding behaviour.
• People with strong moral codes are less likely to commit crime.

Question 12

Walter Reckless - Containment

Answer 12

• People resist committing crime due to inner and outer containment.
• Inner containment - upbringing & family influence
• Outer containment - influence of social groups or laws of society.
• Combination of internal psychological containment an external social containment prevents people rom deviations social norms.