Unit 4 AC2.1 Explain forms of social control

Question 1

What is social control?

Answer 1

It is the process of persuading or forcing people to conform to societal norms and expectations.

Question 2

What are internal forms of social control?

Answer 2

They are controls that come from within ourselves, leading us to conform to societal norms.

Question 3

How does the superego influence behavior?

Answer 3

It guides us on what is right and wrong, creating feelings of guilt when we don’t behave as we should.

Question 4

How does tradition and culture impact social control?

Answer 4

It becomes part of our identity and influences our adherence to norms and traditions.

Question 5

How do personalities relate to social control?

Answer 5

Our personalities consist of the id, ego, and superego, with the superego guiding our behavior and development.

Question 6

What is the process of internalizing social rules and morality?

Answer 6

Socialization internalizes social rules and morality, making them our own personal rules.

Question 7

What is rational ideology in relation to social control?

Answer 7

It is internalizing social rules to determine right from wrong and be law-abiding.

Question 8

What are external forms of social control?

Answer 8

External forms involve organizations and institutions imposing rules on us.

Question 9

How do agencies of social control exert control?

Answer 9

They impose rules and shape behavior through various means.

Question 10

What is the role of negative and positive sanctions?

Answer 10

Negative sanctions punish, while positive sanctions reward, to influence behavior.

Question 11

How does the criminal justice system function as an agent of social control?

Answer 11

It uses legal sanctions to make individuals conform to societal laws.

Question 12

What powers do police, judges, magistrates, and the prison service have in social control?

Answer 12

Police have powers of stop, search, arrest, detention, and questioning, while judges, magistrates, and the prison service have authority over bail, sentencing, and confinement.

Question 13

What is coercion in relation to social control?

Answer 13

It involves using threats or force to make someone comply with certain actions or behaviors.

Question 14

How does fear of punishment contribute to social control?

Answer 14

Fear of punishment induces compliance and adherence to social norms.

Question 15

How does fear act as a deterrent according to right realism?

Answer 15

It deters potential criminals by instilling fear of consequences such as loss of freedom.

Question 16

What do control theories in criminology focus on?

Answer 16

They focus on why people obey the law rather than why they commit crimes.

Question 17

According to Hirschi, how do bonds of attachment influence conformity?

Answer 17

Strong bonds to society lead to conformity, while weak or broken bonds can result in delinquent acts.

Question 18

What is the role of attachment in conformity?

Answer 18

Attachment to others, such as parents or teachers, influences our concern about their opinion of us, making us less likely to break rules.

Question 19

How does commitment to conventional goals affect conformity?

Answer 19

The more committed we are to conventional goals, the higher the risk of losing them by engaging in crime, leading to greater conformity.

Question 20

How does involvement in law-abiding activities relate to conformity?

Answer 20

Engaging in legal activities, like studying or participating in sports, reduces the time available for illegal activities, promoting conformity.

Question 21

How does belief in the importance of obeying the law impact conformity?

Answer 21

Individuals who have been socialized to believe in the rightness of obeying the law are less likely to break it.

Question 22

What role does parenting play in delinquency?

Answer 22

Poor socialization and inconsistent or absent parental discipline can lead to low self-control and delinquency.

Question 23

What are the recommended practices for parents to prevent delinquency?

Answer 23

Parents should take an interest in their children’s activities, spend time with them, express disapproval of criminal behavior, and explain the consequences of offending.

Question 24

How does Reckless explain criminal tendencies and containment?

Answer 24

Reckless suggests that psychological tendencies can lead to criminality, but effective socialization and external controls, such as parental discipline, can provide containment and build self-control.

Question 25

What is the key idea of feminist criminology according to Heidensohn?

Answer 25

Heidensohn explains women’s low level of offending by highlighting the patriarchal controls in society that closely monitor women’s behavior, limiting their opportunities to offend.

Question 26

How does Carlen explain female offending?

Answer 26

Carlen suggests that females who offend often have failed to form attachments to parents due to abuse or growing up in care.