SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Internal Control, Control Theory

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Control theory stems from durkheim who stated that crime serves a purpose as a dysfunction. In order for something to be deviant, it needs to go against the norm and our morals and the law. Internal control which is our self control and what makes up our personality. External control which are things outside of us such as our friends, our family, the law so they have the potential keep us in check. Walter reckless came up with the containment theory. He talks about inner and outer containments; these 2 things push us towards conformity. Inner containments are our self-control, our responsibilities, our personality. Outer containments is the social environment; family, societal norms and values, peers. However, there are inner and outer pushes which push us towards deviancy. Inner pushes stem from inside and are things such as aggression, greed, inferiority, mental illness. Outer pushes are outside of us and are based from society; inequalities, poverty, injustices.