2.1- social control

Norm

• expected behaviours linked to particular circumstances within society

Values definition

• societies overarching beliefs about what is right and wrong

Moral code definition

• Values held by an individual or a group about how they should live their life based on what they believe is right and wrong

What does social control mean

• involves persuading people to conform

What are the two forms of social control

• internal

• External

What is internal control

• control that comes from within ourselves

• Conform as beleive it is the right thing to do

What does socialisation do

• creates identity by instilling norms and values of our culture

Why is it important to conform to traditions

• important way of affirming identity and being accepted as a member of a particular community

• Superego and tradition become part of our identity

How do we internalise rules

• through socialisation

• Conform willingly to social norms

Rational ideology

• how we internalise social rules and use them to tell right and wrong

• Enables us to conform to the law

What is external social control

• use positive and negative sanctions

• Methods come from agencies of social control

Negative social control

• Teachers issuing detention

Positive social control

• teacher giving and award

How is the Criminal justice system use social control

• have several agencies of social control

• Use formal sanctions so we conform to the law

What social control powers do the police have

• power to stop search arrest detain and question suspects

what social control powers do the CPS have

• can change and suspect and prosecute in court

What social control powers do judges and magistrates have

• can bail accused

• Remand in custody

• Sentence guilty to various punishments

What social control powers do prison services have

• detain prisoners against their will for duration of sentence

• Punish bad behaviour

What is coercion

• negative sanction

• Involves threat of force against you if do not obey law

How is fear of punishment a form of coercion

• involved threat of force

What doe control theorists ask

• why people follow the law

Who established control theory

• Hirschi

What did Hirschi theorise for control theory

• people conform as controlled by bonds to society

• Prevent them from deviating

• Delinquents occur if bonds weak or broken

What are the 4 elements to an individuals bond to society

• attachment

• Commitment

• Involvement

• Beliefs

Attachment

• the more we are attached to others the more we respect their norms as we want them to like us

Commitment

• the more committed we are to conventional goals the more we risk losing if we turn to crime

Involvement

• higher involvement in law abiding activities means we have less time for criminal ones

Beliefs

• if we have been socialised to beleive it is right to obey the law

What is the link between parenting and bonds

• creates bonds that prevent young people from offending

Gottfredson and Hirschi

• low self control results from poor socialisation and inconsistent parental discipline

Riley and Shaw

• important factor is lack of parental supervision

• Parents: involved in teens life, interested in what they do, express disapproval for crime

Walter Reckless

• have psychological tendencies that lead to criminality

• Effective social control can provide internal containment by building self control

• External controls provide external containment

Feminists

• use control theory to explain women’s low rate in offending

Heidenson

• patriarchal society controls women more closely

• Harder to offend as spend more time doing domestic duties

Carlen

• women who offend often failed to form attachment to parents

• Suffered abuse or brought up in care