Explain forms of social control Flashcards
what are forms?
ideas
theories
what does social mean?
society
public
what does control mean?
regulate
govern
what does social control mean?
The term social control refers to the techniques and strategies for preventing deviant or criminal human behaviour in any society. Every society seeks to encourage conformity to its norms. Any process that helps to achieve this is a form of social control.
what does social control involve?
Social control involves forms or pressures to persuade or compel members of society to conform to the rules.
what does internal forms of social control mean?
Regulating own behaviour in accordance with accepted forms
What is an internal form of social control based upon?
Conscience
Internal form of social control - why don’t you steal?
Most of us do not steal because we have been taught and believe that stealing is wrong.
We conform to rules because our sense of self-respect demands it, the process of social control is internal.
internal social control: what is rational ideology?
a set of ideas/belief (here relating to social control)
basically a vision of the future and how to get there
What is tradition?
Customs and norms
Religion or culture - or just your upbringing.
‘Family’ traditions ?
No red meat on a Good Friday
New clothes for Easter – or the birds poo on you
What is the internalisation of social rules and morality?
Knowing what is right or wrong based upon social values.
For example not eating all the biscuits
How does religion have a internal form of social control on us?
Religion has a major influence on how we behave as we are guided by the moral codes it puts forward for use to follow.
The 10 Commandments
God is watching us
How does upbringing or tradition have a internal form of social control on us?
Our upbringing, especially parental authority, has a major influence on why we abide by the law. Our traditions
How does our conscience have a internal form of social control on us?
Our feelings inside our mind. Sometimes called our moral compass or conscience tells us we should not commit crime as it is wrong.
How does rational ideology have a internal form of social control on us?
People have an idea of what is right and what is wrong and therefore they abide by the law.
They may put sanctions in place to encourage social control.
How does internalisation of social rules have a internal form of social control on us?
People are able to work out for themselves their social values are and what is unacceptable in society and therefore do not commit crime.
What are external forms of social control?
External pressures persuade or compel members to conform to their rules.
Thus, teachers may assign detention.
what is the most visible form of external social control?
is exercised by people and organisations specifically empowered to enforce conformity to society’s laws
Police officers, judges, and prison guards are the most obvious agents of external social control.
what is Coercion?
is the use of force to achieve a desired end. It may be physical or non-violent
Violent/Physical coercion may take the form of bodily injury, imprisonment and death penalty.
External control can be violent & non violent - what is Nonviolent coercion?
consists of strike, boycott and non-cooperation.
For example, students may go on strike to ensure better student accommodation facilities
what is a boycott (external):
the withholding of social or economic interaction with others to express disapproval and to force acceptance of demands.
what is Non co-operation? (external)
the refusal to cooperate. The teachers may refuse to cooperate with the management over the payment of salaries
what is Deterrence?
the use of punishment as a threat to deter people from offending
what are the two key assumptions of deterrence?
Individual deterrence
General deterrence
What is individual deterrence? include example.
Individual deterrence - punishments imposed on offenders will “deter” or prevent them from committing further crimes
Suspended sentence or conditional discharge
What is general deterrence? include example.
General deterrence - is where the fear of punishment will prevent others from committing similar crimes.
an example is: Lengthy prison sentence or a large fine
What policies come under ‘getting tough on crime’?
“mandatory minimums” – life for murder, 7 years for 3rd drug offence, 3 years for 3rd burglary
truth in sentencing” – policies to serve whole sentence rather than any remission
“three strikes and you’re out” - 3rd conviction for a violent crime likely to be life sentence (USA)
What are control theories?
Control theories try to explain why people do not commit crimes.
They support the view that people require nurturing in order to develop attachments or bonds that are key in producing internal controls such as conscience.
According to this view, crime is the result of insufficient attachment and commitment to others
control theory - Explain Walter C. Reckless:
Walter C Reckless developed one version of control theory, known as containment. He argued that we can resist committing crimes due to inner and outer containment.
Inner containment comes from our upbringing and particularly the influence from our family.
Whilst outer containment refers to the influence of social groups including the laws of the society in which we live.
A combination of internal psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms and committing crimes.
