WJEC Criminology (Unit 4 Learning Objective 2) Questions and Answers| New Update with
100% Correct Answers
Internal social control Controls that come from within ourselves, from personalities and
values, that lead us to conform to the rules of society.
Moral conscience (superego) Forms through early socialisation.
Forms part of our personality, telling us right from wrong and inflicts feelings of guilt.
Restrains the selfish 'animal' urges of the Id and allows us to exercise self-control.
Traditions and cultures We accept traditions and religions of the family that form part of our
identity.
Eg, Muslim tradition of fasting during Ramadan.
Conforming to these is an important way of confirming one's identity.
Internalising social rules We internalise social rules and traditions through the process of
socialisation in the family or wider social groups.
Society's rules and moral codes then become our own personal rules.
We use them to tell us what is right from wrong, and so we keep within the law (rational
ideology).
External social control Agencies that aim to ensure we conform to its expectations and keep
to its rules.
Agencies Organisations or institutions that impose rules on us to make us behave in
particular ways.
May include parents, peer groups, teachers, who give us positive sanctions to those conforming
and negative ones to those who aren't.
Echos Skinner's operant learning theory, as punishments deter undesirable behaviour and
rewards encourage acceptable behaviour.
, Criminal justice system Police have the power to stop and search, arrest, detain and
question.
CPS can charge a suspect and prosecute them in court.
Judges and magistrates have powers to bail the accused or remand them in custody, and
sentence the guilty.
Prison service can detain prisoners against their will for the duration of their sentence and
punish their misbehaviour.
Coercion Use of threat or force in order to make someone do, or stop doing, something.
May involve physical or psychological violence or the threat to do it.
Fear of punishment Form of coercion that makes people conform to laws. If you commit a
crime, you will be arrested, charged, convicted and even jailed against your will.
Deterrence is the fear of being caught, makes people continue to obey the law. Fear of
punishment acts as a deterrent for committing crime.
Retribution Offender pays back for their wrongful behaviour.
Offender deserves to be punished ('just deserts') and society is morally entitled to get 'revenge'.
Punishment should be proportional to the crime committed - 'an eye for an eye, tooth for a
tooth'.
Retribution - theory Right Realism - rational choice theory. Offenders are rational actors
who consciously choose to commit crime, so they are responsible for their actions. They should
suffer societal outrage for their behaviour.
Functionalists - Durkheim. Performs the function of boundary maintenance. Punishing an
offender reminds everyone of the difference between right and wrong.
Retribution - criticisms Offenders may deserve forgiveness, mercy or a chance to make
amends, not just be punished.
How do we decide was is a proportionate penalty or 'just desert' for each crime. It is subjective.
100% Correct Answers
Internal social control Controls that come from within ourselves, from personalities and
values, that lead us to conform to the rules of society.
Moral conscience (superego) Forms through early socialisation.
Forms part of our personality, telling us right from wrong and inflicts feelings of guilt.
Restrains the selfish 'animal' urges of the Id and allows us to exercise self-control.
Traditions and cultures We accept traditions and religions of the family that form part of our
identity.
Eg, Muslim tradition of fasting during Ramadan.
Conforming to these is an important way of confirming one's identity.
Internalising social rules We internalise social rules and traditions through the process of
socialisation in the family or wider social groups.
Society's rules and moral codes then become our own personal rules.
We use them to tell us what is right from wrong, and so we keep within the law (rational
ideology).
External social control Agencies that aim to ensure we conform to its expectations and keep
to its rules.
Agencies Organisations or institutions that impose rules on us to make us behave in
particular ways.
May include parents, peer groups, teachers, who give us positive sanctions to those conforming
and negative ones to those who aren't.
Echos Skinner's operant learning theory, as punishments deter undesirable behaviour and
rewards encourage acceptable behaviour.
, Criminal justice system Police have the power to stop and search, arrest, detain and
question.
CPS can charge a suspect and prosecute them in court.
Judges and magistrates have powers to bail the accused or remand them in custody, and
sentence the guilty.
Prison service can detain prisoners against their will for the duration of their sentence and
punish their misbehaviour.
Coercion Use of threat or force in order to make someone do, or stop doing, something.
May involve physical or psychological violence or the threat to do it.
Fear of punishment Form of coercion that makes people conform to laws. If you commit a
crime, you will be arrested, charged, convicted and even jailed against your will.
Deterrence is the fear of being caught, makes people continue to obey the law. Fear of
punishment acts as a deterrent for committing crime.
Retribution Offender pays back for their wrongful behaviour.
Offender deserves to be punished ('just deserts') and society is morally entitled to get 'revenge'.
Punishment should be proportional to the crime committed - 'an eye for an eye, tooth for a
tooth'.
Retribution - theory Right Realism - rational choice theory. Offenders are rational actors
who consciously choose to commit crime, so they are responsible for their actions. They should
suffer societal outrage for their behaviour.
Functionalists - Durkheim. Performs the function of boundary maintenance. Punishing an
offender reminds everyone of the difference between right and wrong.
Retribution - criticisms Offenders may deserve forgiveness, mercy or a chance to make
amends, not just be punished.
How do we decide was is a proportionate penalty or 'just desert' for each crime. It is subjective.
