未分类题Theories of social control focus on the strategies and techniques which help regulate human behavior. and thus lead to conformity and compliance of the rules of society, including the influences of family, school, morals, values, beliefs, etc.. Does existence of rules guarantee peaceful existence of the group? Who is to ensure compliance with such rules? Social control theorists are out to study such questions. (46)They are interested in learning why people conform. to norms; they ask why people conform. in the face of so much temptation, peer pressure, and inducement. Juveniles and adults conform. to the law in response to certain controlling forces which are present in their lives. Thus, they are likely to become criminal when the controlling forces in their lives are defective or absent. (47)Social control theorists argue that the more involved and committed a person is to conventional activities, the greater the attachment to others (such as family and friends), the less likely that a person is to violate the rules of society. Social control has its roots in the early part of this century in the work of sociologist E.A. Ross. (48)Ross believed that belief systems, not specific laws, guide what individuals do and this serves to control behavior, no matter the forms that beliefs may take. Social control is often seen as all-encompassing, practically representing any phenomenon leading to conformity, which leads to norms. Others see social control as a broad representation of regulated mechanisms placed upon societys members. In other words, social control regards what is to be considered deviant, violations of the law, right or wrong. (49)Social control mechanisms can be adopted as laws, norms, mores, ethics, etiquette, and customs, which all control and thus define behavior. Social control theory is viewed from two perspectives. The macrosocial perspective explores formal control systems for the control of groups, including the legal system such as laws, law enforcement, powerful groups in society (who can help influence laws and norms) and economic and social directives of government or private organizations. Such controls can serve to be either positive or negative. (50)On the other hand, the microsocial perspective focuses on informal control systems, which help to explain why individuals conform. It also considers the source of control to be external, that is, outside of the person. We will focus on microsocial views of social control while examining the theories of Travis Hirshi (Social Bonds) and Gresham Sykes and David Matzas Techniques of Neutralization (Drift Theory). Walter Reckless Containment Theory is also included here as a theory of social control, although we can also consider it a self-concept approach.
