Question

Beccaria argued that the threat of punishment controls crime. Personally, think of any other forms of social control exist and how they may exist in your life. Aside from the threat of legal punishment, what else controls your behavior?

Answer 1

Behavior is controlled by multiple forms of social control such as rewards, sanctions, religious beliefs, societal norms, and social bonds. These elements influence our actions by offering positive reinforcement for desirable behavior or negative consequences for norm violations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Aside from the threat of legal punishment, several forms of social control exist that influence our behavior. These include rewards, sanctions, and the underlying societal norms and values that guide how we conduct ourselves.

Religious beliefs, for example, play a crucial role in social control by outlining acceptable behaviors and consequences for misbehavior. The Ten Commandments across various religions prohibit undesirable behaviors and suggest not only social disapproval but also supernatural consequences for violations.

In our everyday lives, social control manifests through various interactions. A student who earns good grades may anticipate praise from parents and teachers, which encourages conformity to educational expectations. On the contrary, negative sanctions, such as disapproval or legal penalties like fines, serve to deter undesirable behaviors.

Social bonds and the commitment to a community also play a significant part in regulating behavior. The connection to others, the investment in the community, participation in social activities, and shared values, as discussed in Travis Hirschi's control theory, all contribute to an individual's likelihood of conforming to societal norms.