Criminal Law
Bryett, Keith; Craswell, Emma; Harrison, Arch & Shaw, John. (1993).
An introduction to policing: Vol. 1: Criminal justice in Australia.
Sydney: Butterworths.
Ch. 2. "Formal and informal methods of social control", pp. 8-14.
Formal and Informal Methods of Social Control
Informal Control: The Socialisation Process
Ii'OllltllllA lIN)) INIi'OllltllIIA ltllrrHOnS Oli'
'Society' is a broad term which 'includes aggregate groups within a geographically delineated nation state' (Najman 1988: 4). Social controls operate within society to regulate the behaviour of individuals so that it does not conflict with the interests of society as a whole. Everyone is subjected to varying degrees of social control from the moment of birth. Development brings maturity, knowledge and experience of the world through interaction with the family and other social groups. Various influences and relationships shape and control individual lifestyles.
Society as an aggregate of disparate individuals and groups of individuals, can be perceived as a continuum of sometimes competing beliefs and philosophies, of limited resources and of unequal distributions of wealth, power and privilege. The potential for conflict is obviously high, and must be contained and regulated through mechanisms of social control.
One responsibility of governments elected in liberal-democratic societies is to provide stability in this environment of conflict. They must exercise, and be seen to exercise, legally sanctioned. controls and punishment for actions which threaten society's wellbeing. Hirst (1984: 75-6) defines a sanction as 'any legally recognised means whereby an attempt is made to ensure conformity with [and obligation to social] norms'. Despite this it is important to remember that:
Society is not based on law, that is a legal fiction, rather law must be based on society; it must be the expression of society's common interests and needs (Marx, in Taylor et al
1975:56).
An introduction to policing: Vol. 1: Criminal justice in Australia.
Sydney: Butterworths.
Ch. 2. "Formal and informal methods of social control", pp. 8-14.
Formal and Informal Methods of Social Control
Informal Control: The Socialisation Process
Ii'OllltllllA lIN)) INIi'OllltllIIA ltllrrHOnS Oli'
'Society' is a broad term which 'includes aggregate groups within a geographically delineated nation state' (Najman 1988: 4). Social controls operate within society to regulate the behaviour of individuals so that it does not conflict with the interests of society as a whole. Everyone is subjected to varying degrees of social control from the moment of birth. Development brings maturity, knowledge and experience of the world through interaction with the family and other social groups. Various influences and relationships shape and control individual lifestyles.
Society as an aggregate of disparate individuals and groups of individuals, can be perceived as a continuum of sometimes competing beliefs and philosophies, of limited resources and of unequal distributions of wealth, power and privilege. The potential for conflict is obviously high, and must be contained and regulated through mechanisms of social control.
One responsibility of governments elected in liberal-democratic societies is to provide stability in this environment of conflict. They must exercise, and be seen to exercise, legally sanctioned. controls and punishment for actions which threaten society's wellbeing. Hirst (1984: 75-6) defines a sanction as 'any legally recognised means whereby an attempt is made to ensure conformity with [and obligation to social] norms'. Despite this it is important to remember that:
Society is not based on law, that is a legal fiction, rather law must be based on society; it must be the expression of society's common interests and needs (Marx, in Taylor et al
1975:56).