Criminology : AC2.1 : Explain Forms of Social Control

- Social control refers to any strategies for preventing behaviour

- Involves forms or pressures to persuade or compel members of society to conform to the rules

- Agents who socially control society include police, judges and prison guards

- Conscience : Conform to rules as our sense of self respect demands it

- Rational Ideology : Set of beliefs based upon rational assumptions

- Internalisation of social rules and morality : Knowing what is right/wrong based upon social values

- Coercion : Use of force to achieve a desired end

- External pressures

- A set of beliefs based upon rational assumptions

- People used to be controlled socially through religious codes of behaviour and moral expectations

- Most of us do not steal because we have been taught to belive that stealing is wrong

- When we conform to rules its because our sense of self respect demands it

- The process of social control is internal

- Coercion is an external social control

- May take the form of bodily injury, imprisonment, and death penalty

- Non-violent forms consisty of strike, boycott, and non-cooperation

- Individual Deterrence : Punishments imposed on offenders will 'deter' or prevent them from committing further crime. E.g. Suspended sentence or conditional charge

- General Deterrence ; The fear of punishment will prevent others from commitying similar crimes. E.g. Lengthy prison sentences or a large fine.

- Refers to any strategies for preventing behaviour

- Involves form or pressures to persuade or compel members of society to conform to the rules