SOC 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Social Control, Puritans, Social Safety Net
16 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Crime: the violation of a society"s formally enacted criminal law. Social control: attempts by society to regulate people"s thought and behaviour. Criminal justice system: a formal response by police, courts, and prison officials to alleged violations of the law. Has to do with social control, how we want people to behave in a certain culture. Recognized is the key word because we decide. Early studies showed relationship of criminal behaviour with head shape (lombroso) and body size (sheldon), but they were faulty. Now studies show people"s overall genetic composition in combination with social influences account for variation in criminality. Some people do it because of how they"ve been socialized. How can you decide between genetics and social. Containment theory: individual factors like the ability to cope with frustration and identifying positively with cultural norms and values are related to fewer problems with police. Critical review: the most serious crimes are committed by those whose psychological profiles are normal.
