Topic 3: Forms of Social Control

Question 1

Define values

Answer 1

General guidelines or principles of how we should live our lives, they tell us what is right and wrong, good and bad etc. and are generally shared by people within a community.

Question 2

Define norms

Answer 2

Specific rules or socially accepted standards that guide/govern our behaviour.

Question 3

Define moral codes

Answer 3

A set of rules/guidelines that a person must follow in order to live a moral life.

Question 4

What sanctions exist for controlling our behaviour?

Answer 4

Formal

Informal

Question 5

Define social control

Answer 5

Social control theory relates to persuading or compelling people to conform to society’s laws, norms and expectations. It is how society controls our behaviour, so we abide by the law.

Question 6

Define internal social control

Answer 6

Controls over our behaviour that come from within ourselves- sometimes this is referred to as our conscience. They are forms of self-control that lead us to conform in society, because we feel that it is the right thing to do.

Question 7

Name the 4 areas of internal social control

Answer 7

Internalised Social Rules and Morality
Rationality and Rational Choice Theory
Moral Conscience and Superego
Cultural Traditions

Question 8

Define socialisation

Answer 8

The process of learning what behaviour is acceptable in society, through social interaction (may be peers, teachers, peers etc.)

Question 9

Define internalising/internalisation

Answer 9

We internalise rules that society sets out, which becomes our own internal rule book/moral code. In this way, societies rules become our own rules and morals and as a result we automatically follow society’s morals.

Question 10

According to internalised social rules and morality, why do people obey the law?

Answer 10

People obey the law because their personal morals, values and ideas are to follow the socially accepted rules and standards (the law) because they believe that it is the right thing to do.

Question 11

What happens to people who do not internalise society’s rules?

Answer 11

They rebel against what it is considered to be morally right or socially acceptable– leading to criminality.

Question 12

Define rational ideology

Answer 12

By correctly internalising society’s rules through effective socialisation, we develop the ability to make rational decisions. Those who do not, make irrational decisions.

Question 13

Define rational decision making

Answer 13

The process of doing something which makes logical sense, which has considered different variables and comes to conclusions based on evidence.

Question 14

Outline Rational Choice Theory

Answer 14

Rational Choice Theory suggests that humans are rational beings, who weigh up the cost and reward of an action when deciding how to behave.
They weigh up the pros and cons, and if the pros outweigh the cons, they are likely to commit the act.
Therefore according to this theory, criminals choose to behave criminally and think the benefits of committing the crime outweigh the potential cost of getting caught.

Question 15

According to Rational Choice Theory, why do people obey the law?

Answer 15

People obey the law because they recognise that the benefits do not outweigh the costs of committing the act.

Question 16

Outline Freud’s Moral Conscience and Superego

Answer 16

According to Freud, we have 3 parts to our mind which form our personality. This is known as Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality. He believed there was a divide between the conscious (ego and superego) and the unconscious mind (the id). He believed the unconscious mind to be responsible for criminal behaviour.

Question 17

Define the id

Answer 17

Our basic instinctive impulses which operates on the pleasure principle- wanting instant gratification.

Question 18

Define the ego

Answer 18

Our ability to make reasoned and rational choices that are influenced by society. The ego mediates the id and the superego- satisfying the id’s demands, whilst abiding by society.

Question 19

Define the superego

Answer 19

Our moral conscience that is influenced by society. It incorporates the morals and values of society- controlling the impulses of the id, whilst persuading the ego to act morally.

Question 20

How is the superego developed?

Answer 20

Through early socialisation- we internalise the rules we have been taught through this process.

Question 21

State the main role of the superego

Answer 21

It is there to restrain the selfish, primal urges of the id which is believed to lead us into criminal behaviour. It is our self-control, allowing us to behave in socially acceptable ways.

Question 22

According to moral conscience and superego, why do people obey the law?

Answer 22

People obey the law because their ego controls the impulses of the id, and their superego restrains their selfish, impulsive urges.

Question 23

Outline Cultural Traditions

Answer 23

The culture we belong to becomes a part of us and the way we behave through the process of socialisation. We come to accept the norms, values and traditions of the culture as part of our identity.

Question 24

Give an example of a cultural tradition in another country

Answer 24

E.g. China- Real life marriage markets take place each Sunday to hunt for the perfect match. Parents and grandparents of eligible candidates attend the market to exchange information on their children.

Question 25

According to cultural traditions, why do people obey the law?

Answer 25

People obey the law because they value their cultural traditions and have most likely been socialised with these traditions in mind, ultimately internalising them personally.

Question 26

Define external forms of control

Answer 26

External forms of control come from outside of yourself, from other people in society.

Question 27

Name the 3 areas of external social control

Answer 27

Agencies of social control
Control Theory
The Criminal Justice System

Question 28

What are the 5 agencies of social control?

Answer 28

Family
Education system
Peers
The Military
The Criminal Justice System

Question 29

How does family maintain social control?

Answer 29

The family is the first place that you are socialised. This is where you are first taught what is acceptable/unacceptable. Family directly influences our values, traditions and morals.

Question 30

How does the education system maintain social control?

Answer 30

Education is a significant form os social control, not only are you being taught a wide range if knowledge, but you are also being taught to obey disciplinary procedures.

Question 31

How do peers maintain social control?

Answer 31

Peers play an important role as the dynamic of your friendship group/colleague group can influence what is seen as acceptable behaviour.

Question 32

How does the military maintain social control?

Answer 32

The military can be seen as a symbol of social control as it acts on behalf of the state to carry out actions in line with formal law, but can also compel compliance.

Question 33

How does the criminal justice system maintain social control?

Answer 33

The CJS is seen as a symbol of social control because it enacts control over society by punishing those who break formal laws, acting as a deterrent for criminal behaviour.

Question 34

Define a positive sanction

Answer 34

A reward for conforming to established norms.

Question 35

Define a negative sanction

Answer 35

A punishment for breaking an established norm.

Question 36

What theory does agencies of social control theory relate to?

Answer 36

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)- an approach to learning and behaviour which suggests that behaviour can be conditioned through the use of reward and punishment.

Question 37

According to agencies of social control, why do people obey the law?

Answer 37

People obey the law because they fear the sanctions if they don’t, which can be formal and informal. They also know what is the morally correct thing to do from having been socialised in these environments.

Question 38

What does Travis Hirschi say about why people want to conform to societies rules?

Answer 38

Hirschi argues that people conform because they are controlled by their bonds to society which keeps them from deviating.

Question 39

State the 4 elements of Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 39

Attachment
Commitment
Involvement
Beliefs

Question 40

Describe attachment in relation to Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 40

The more attached we are to people in society (especially parents, teachers etc.), the more we care about their opinion. Therefore, we obey the law to please them, and respect their norms.

Question 41

Describe commitment in relation to Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 41

The more committed we are ti conventional goals (such as getting an education, a good job etc.), the more we risk if we were to get involved in crime, so we are more likely to want to conform.

Question 42

Describe involvement in relation to Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 42

The more involved with conventional, law-abiding activities (e.g. studying/sport), the less energy we will have to get involved in crime. For example, the concept of youth clubs- getting kids busy off the street so they don’t get caught up in crime.

Question 43

Describe beliefs in relation to Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 43

If we have been socialised to believe that it is right to obey the law, we are less likely to break it.

Question 44

Name a theorist who supported Hirschi’s control theory

Answer 44

Riley & Shaw- found that lack of parental supervision was an important factor in delinquency, stating that parents should involve themselves in teenager’s lives, spend time with them and take an interest in what activities they participate in.

Question 45

How does feminism relate to control theory

Answer 45

Used control model to explain low levels off female offending. Frances Heidensohn argues that a patriarchal society controls females more closely making it hard for them to offend. Pat Carlen found that females who do offend had often failed to form an attachment to parents because they suffered abuse or had been brought up in care.

Question 46

According to Hirschi’s control theory, why do people obey the law?

Answer 46

People obey the law because they value their bonds to society and their future goals. They know that the only way of keeping these is to conform with the law so they don’t lose opportunities.

Question 47

What agencies of social control exist within the CJS?

Answer 47

Police
The CPS
Judges and Magistrates
National Prison and Probation Service

Question 48

How does fear of punishment act as a form of social control within the CJS?

Answer 48

Fear of punishment stops people from breaking the law.

Right realists argue that fear of being caught and punished is what stops ‘would be’ criminals from breaking the law.

Question 49

How does coercion act as a form of social control within the CJS?

Answer 49

Coercion involves the use of threat of force in order to make someone do, or stop doing something. Force may be physical or psychological violence, or other forms of pressure. The negative sanctions of the CJS are examples of coercion.

Question 50

Give 2 examples of positive sanctions for controlling behaviour within the CJS

Answer 50

Good behaviour brings a lesser sentence.

Be given more responsibility, for example, working.