SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY

WHAT IS SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY?

- Control theories see their perspective as a replacement for both anomie theory and the
subcultural or learning approaches.
- Social control theory proposes that people’s relationships, commitments, values, norms,
and beliefs encourage them not to break the law. Thus, if moral codes are internalized and
individuals are tied into and have a stake in their wider community, they will voluntarily
limit their propensity to commit deviant acts.
 SOCIAL CONTROL also known as “ SOCIAL BOND THEORY”
 According to Mannheim, Social control is the sum of those methods by which a
society tries to influence human behavior to maintain a given order. Any society must
have harmony and order

SOCIAL BONDS:

 Attachment
 Commitment
 Involvement
 Belief

WHO DEVELOPED THE SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY?

- Travis Hirschi in the late twentieth century and first published by him in 1969.
- He stated that the presence or lack of effectiveness of social controls on individuals were
key influences in their decision to engage in criminal activity.

SOCIAL CONTROL:
CENTRALIZED CONTROL- typically maintained through administrative or
hierarchical techniques such as creating standards or policies.
DECENTRALIZED CONTROL- typically maintained through factors such as price,
competition, or market share.
MIXED CONTROL- typically maintained by keeping a set of values and beliefs or
norms and traditions.

THE SOCIAL FOUNDATION OF DEVIANCE:

 DEVIANCE VARIES ACCORDING TO CULTURAL NORMS

 - No thoughts or actions is inherently deviant; it becomes deviant only in relation to
particular norm
 PEOPLE BECOME AS DEVIANT AS OTHERS DEFINE THEM THAT WAY
- Everyone violates cultural norms regularly, occasionally to the extent of breaking the law
 BOTH ROLE MAKING AND RULE BREAKING INVOLVES SOCIAL POWER
- The law, claimed Karl Marx, amounts to little more than the means by which powerful
people protect their interest.

PROCESS OF SOCIAL CONTROL:

INTERNALIZATION PROCESS- The process by which a norm becomes a part of an
individual’s personality, thus conditioning that individual to conform to society’s
expectations.
SANCTIONING PROCESS- Refers to the mechanism and procedures through which
individuals or groups are held accountable for their actions and behaviors within a
society. Sanctions can be form or informal.

INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL- Refers to the unwritten, unofficial mechanism and

practices that influence individuals behavior and maintain social order within a community or
society.
FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL- Refers to the system of rules, laws, and institutions
established by society to enforce conformity and prevent deviant behavior.

THE PURPOSE OF SOCIAL CONTROL:

- To maintain conformity to established norms and rules.
- According to Kimball Young the aims of Social Control are to bring about conformity,
solidarity, and continuity of a particular group or society
The Classification of the motives or purposes of the agents of social control:
1. Exploitative, motivated by self-interest
2. Regulative based upon habit and the desire for behavior of the customary types.
3. Creative or constructive based on social benefit

IRONY OF SOCIAL CONTROL

 - Refers to situation where people use irony or sarcasms to criticize or influence other’s
behavior
- Refers to situation where attempts to control or regulate certain behaviors or actions end
up producing unintended or contradictory outcomes

MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL

- Refers to the mechanisms, strategies, and institutions societies use to regulate individual’s
behavior and maintain order
- This can include formal system and informal.

INFORMAL PRIMARY GROUP CONTROL

- An association created by two or more individuals who come together to satisfy their
social, affiliation, and psychological need
- Control is informal, spontaneous and unplanned

SECONDARY GROUP CONTROL

- More impersonal, more formal
- Labor union, trade association, church congregation, or student body

SPECIAL LANGAUGE AS SOCIAL CONTROL

- Refers to the use of specific terminology, jargon, or coded language within a particular
group or community to regulate behavior, establish norms and maintain cohesion

CONTROL THROUGH FORCE

- Refers to the exertion of authority or dominance through physical and coercive means,
often involving the threat or use of violence, intimidation, or coercion to achieve
compliance or submission from others

LABELLING THEORY
WHAT IS LABELLING THEORY?
- Sociological perspective that focuses on the societal reactions to individuals behaviors,
emphasizing how the application of labels, such as “deviant” or “criminal”, can
significantly impact on individuals identity and subsequent behavior.
HISTORY
1963- Howard Becker publishes “outsider” introducing the core concepts of labelling theory,
emphasizing the societal reaction to deviant behavior rather the behavior itself
1960-1970- Labeling theory gains traction, with scholars exploring the impacts of labels in
individuals identities and behaviors.
1980- The theory evolves, incorporating insights from symbolic interactionism and other
disciplines.
1990-2000- Labeling theory influences discussions on criminal justice policies, rehabilitation,
and societal perceptions of deviance.
Present- Continues to be a significant perspective in criminology, adapting to diverse cultural
contexts, and contributing to ongoing debates on crime and justice.
Primary Deviance
- Primary deviance is the first time someone breaks a rule or does something considered wrong,
usually without being labeled as a “bad person” for it.
- Primary deviance is like when a student tells a small lie about forgetting to do their homework.
It’s their first time breaking the rule, and it doesn’t lead to any serious consequences or being
labeled as a “bad student” right away.
Secondary deviance
- Secondary deviance happens when someone’s first rule-breaking act gets them labeled as
“bad” by others. Then, because they’re seen as “bad,” they might keep breaking rules or
doing more deviant things. It’s like a cycle where being labeled as a rule-breaker leads to
more rule-breaking.

- A teenager gets caught shoplifting for the first time. After this incident, they are labeled
as a “thief” by their peers and maybe even by authority figures. Because of this label, the
teenager starts to see themselves as a thief and may continue shoplifting or even engage
in other forms of deviant behavior, like vandalism or skipping school.
Difference between Primary and Secondary Deviance
 - Primary deviance is like the first time you break a rule without being labeled as “bad.”
Secondary deviance is when you keep breaking rules because you’ve been labeled as
“bad” after the first time. So, primary is the first time, and secondary is what happens
next because of that first time.
Stigma
- Stigma is like a social mark that makes people look down on you or treat you differently
because of something about you, like your race, sexuality, or having a mental illness. It’s
like a label that can lead to unfair treatment or being left out.

- Imagine someone has a visible scar on their face. People might stare at them, avoid
sitting next to them, or assume they’re somehow different or less capable because of the
scar. This is an example of stigma based on appearance, where the person is treated
differently because of something physical about them.
Master status
- “Master status” is like a big label that defines how people see you the most. It’s the main
thing that stands out about you and affects how others treat you, often more than anything
else about you. For example, if someone is known as a “famous actor,” that becomes
their master status, and people might see them primarily as an actor before anything else.
Moral entrepreneur
- A “moral entrepreneur” is a person or group who tries to change society’s views or laws
based on their own moral beliefs. They often advocate for or against certain behaviors or
practices, working to convince others that their moral stance is the right one. These
individuals or groups can come from various backgrounds, such as religious
organizations, advocacy groups, or political movements, and they often use their
influence to shape public opinion and policy.

- Two categories of Moral Entrepreneur are Rule creators and Rule enforcer
- Rule creators are those that create rules
- Rule enforcer include law enforcement and judges.
Deviant Career
- a “deviant career” describes the path someone takes when they break the rules or do
things society sees as wrong. It’s like a journey where a person continues to make choices
that go against what most people consider acceptable or legal. This could lead to a
lifestyle that’s considered outside the norm or even criminal
- Let’s say someone starts shoplifting small items from stores as a teenager. Over time,
they might continue stealing, gradually moving on to bigger items or even more serious
 crimes like burglary or robbery. As they get older, they might become involved in other
illegal activities or develop a lifestyle that’s considered unconventional or deviant by
society. This progression from small thefts to more serious crimes would be an example
of a deviant career.
THE PROCESS OF LABELING

 Identification of deviant behavior

 Application of societal labels
 Internalization of labels by the individuals

Retrospective label
- Applying a deviant label to an individual or group based on their past behavior, even if
that behavior was not initially considered deviant
Positive label
- refers to a societal or social designation given to an individual or group that is viewed
positively by society. This label can influence how individuals perceive themselves and
how others perceive them. For example, being labeled as “successful,” “talented,” or
“responsible” can lead to positive outcomes, such as increased self-esteem and
opportunities, while also shaping how others interact with and perceive the labeled
individual.
Negative label
- refers to a societal or social designation given to an individual or group that is viewed
negatively by society. This label can have detrimental effects on the individual’s self-
perception and social interactions. Examples of negative labels include “criminal,”
“delinquent,” “troublemaker,” or “deviant.” Once someone is labeled negatively, it can
lead to stigma, discrimination, and even further deviant behavior due to the societal
expectations associated with the label.
LABELING THEORY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Application in criminal justice
1. Arrest and labeled
2. Stigmatization
3. Self fulfilling prophecy
Critiques of labeling theory
- Overemphasis on societal reaction
- Ignoring structural factors