AC 2.1

Question 1

what is Social Control?

Answer 1

any strategies that aim to prevent deviant human behaviour. we encourage everyone to conform to the law and anything that helps to achieve this is a form of social control. they are actions that try to persuade members of society to conform.

Question 2

what is Internal Social Control?

Answer 2

internal thoughts that regulate your own behaviour, your own conscience tells you something is wrong , similar to norms of society.

Question 3

what are the 4 forms of Internal Social Control?

Answer 3

1. Rational Ideology
2. Tradition
3. Upbringing
4. Internalisation of Social Rules & Morality
5. Religion

Question 4

Rational Ideology

Answer 4

Internal - conscience mixed with feelings of guilt, anxiety or worry from within that guides you to reach a solution or follow laws & rules.

Question 5

Tradition -

Answer 5

Internal - could be traditions that you have been exposed to growing up that make you conform, sometimes they are religious or cultural or could just be own family traditions.

Question 6

Upbringing -

Answer 6

Internal - about the way in which you are brought up and how it influences your actions, if parents are conforming to the rules of society & they make sure that you hear/see this you are more likely to conform.

Question 7

Internalisation of Social Rules & Morality

Answer 7

Internal - someone works out what is right or wrong based on values of society at the time, e.g not eating all the biscuits & making sure there is some left for others or not cheating in an exam.

Question 8

Religion

Answer 8

Internal - individual may internalise religion that they follow and it becomes part of their moral compass which is what makes them abide by the law.

Question 9

what is External Social Control?

Answer 9

any external pressures that are used to persuade member of society to conform to rules e.g a teacher might give a student a detention if they don’t hand in their homework to ensure they don’t do it again.

Question 10

what are the forms of Extenal Social Control?

Answer 10

1. Coercion
2. Fear of Punishment

Question 11

Coercion -

Answer 11

External -
Violent Coercion - things like bodily injuries, imprisonment & even the death penalty.
Non violent Coercion - things like strikes, boycotts & non cooperation.

Question 12

Fear of Punishment -

Answer 12

External - the use of punishment as a threat to stop people offending (detterrence)
Individual detterrence - punishment is given to deter the individual from committing further crime e.g a suspended sentence where the fear of going to prison deters someone from committing more crime.
General detterrence - punishment is given to someone to deter others in society from committing similar crimes e.g lengthy prison sentences or heavy fines, the policies are known as “getting tough on crime” e.g ‘mandatory minimums’ or ‘three strikes and your out’.

Question 13

what are the 2 control theories of Social Control?

Answer 13

1. Walter C Reckless - Containment Theory
2. Travis Hirschi - Social Bonds Theory

Question 14

Containment Theory -

Answer 14

Reckless argued that we can resist committing crime due to inner & outer containment, a combination of both prevents people from deviating from social norms & committing crimes.
Inner - comes from your upbringing and family
Outer - comes from the influence if social group including laws of society

Question 15

Social Bonds Theory -

Answer 15

Hirschi believed that people had to form social bonds to prevent criminal behaviour, there are 4 bonds.
Attachment - a positive attachment to parents/guardians, school and a peer group to promote pro-social behaviour.
Commitment - to accomplishing future positive goals such as a good job, nice house etc.
Involvement - in a social activity such as playing in a sport team or belonging to a community group.
Belief - a belief in societies values, sharing the norms and believing crime is wrong.