Social Control and Punishment

    OCR
    GCSE

    Candidates must analyze the mechanisms of social control and the sociological evolution of punishment. The study encompasses the transition from sovereign power (corporal punishment) to disciplinary power (surveillance/imprisonment), as articulated by Foucault. Responses must evaluate competing theoretical perspectives—Functionalist (boundary maintenance), Marxist (ideological state apparatus), and Interactionist (labeling)—on the role of the criminal justice system. Critical focus is required on the efficacy of prisons, the rise of mass incarceration (Garland), and contemporary surveillance dynamics (Liquid Surveillance, Synopticon).

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for explicit use of sociological terminology: 'social control', 'sanctions', 'agencies', 'conformity', 'coercion'.
    • Credit responses that accurately distinguish between formal agencies (police, courts) and informal agencies (family, peers, education).
    • High-level responses must integrate theoretical perspectives: Functionalism (consensus/boundary maintenance), Marxism (class control), or Feminism (patriarchal control).
    • Evaluation must assess the effectiveness of punishment strategies (e.g., prison vs. community service) rather than just describing them.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for explicit use of sociological terminology: 'social control', 'sanctions', 'agencies', 'conformity', 'coercion'.
    • Credit responses that accurately distinguish between formal agencies (police, courts) and informal agencies (family, peers, education).
    • High-level responses must integrate theoretical perspectives: Functionalism (consensus/boundary maintenance), Marxism (class control), or Feminism (patriarchal control).
    • Evaluation must assess the effectiveness of punishment strategies (e.g., prison vs. community service) rather than just describing them.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When analyzing sources, explicitly state whether the data reflects formal or informal control mechanisms.
    • 💡For 'Discuss' questions, ensure you present contrasting theoretical views (e.g., Functionalist vs. Marxist) to access top band marks.
    • 💡Allocate approximately 1 minute per mark; do not over-write on the lower tariff (1-4 mark) questions at the expense of the 12-mark essay.
    • 💡Use the 'PERC' structure for paragraphs: Point, Explain, Refer to theorist/study, Critique.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'crime' (law-breaking) with 'deviance' (norm-breaking) when discussing sanctions.
    • Describing sanctions generically without linking them to the specific agency responsible (e.g., failing to link 'grounding' specifically to the Family).
    • Offering 'common sense' critiques of punishment (e.g., 'prison is boring') instead of sociological arguments (e.g., 'recidivism rates suggest prison fails to rehabilitate').

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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