Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Social Control
2
Important to note that you need to assess two main implications:
1. Ethical 2. Practical So, remind yourself what the difference is…..
3
Learning Outcomes By the end of the lesson you should be able to describe what we mean by social control You will be able to identify at least 2 techniques have been used to control people and their behaviour You will be able to describe one practical and one ethical implication of social control
4
Social control is the term given to the regulation of people’s behaviour for social purposes.
The different approaches in psychology have led to different techniques of social control
5
Social control includes social mechanisms that regulate individual and group behaviour, leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society or social group. Many mechanisms of social control are cross cultural, if only in the control mechanisms used to prevent the establishment of chaos. There are two basic forms of social control Internalisation or norms and values the use of sanctions which can be either positive (rewards) or negative (punishment)
6
There are a number of situations in which psychological knowledge and techniques are used to alter or control people’s behaviour….think of an example Some are uncontroversial as we tend to agree that certain behaviours need controlling – can you think of an example? Others raise issues of personal freedom …..eg?
7
TYPES OF POWER French and Raven (1960) identified EXPERT POWER
REWARD POWER LEGITIMATE POWER COERCIVE POWER REFERENT POWER Complete worksheet
8
Remember the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality?
SOCIAL CONTROL social norms and customs define us as a society or culture Keep us in control to an extent and If you go against social norms it is considered ‘abnormal’ or ‘deviant’ DISCUSS Remember the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality?
9
Who should have the power to control someone else's behaviour?
10
What means are appropiate to control someone elses behaviour?
11
When is control appropiate?
12
Who should be controlled?
13
Discuss in groups…. Be ready to share ideas…
WHO should have the power to control someone? WHEN is control appropriate? WHO should be controlled? WHAT means are appropriate to control someone? STOP
14
DRUG THERAPY Do drug addicts have a choice? Consider the
A trained professional administers drugs when a patient undergoes drug treatment. This person controls how much of the drug and which type an individual should receive. They will monitor the progress of their patients to determine whether the drug is right for them Someone addicted to a drug can be given a substitute that has fewer side effects and this can help them to come off the drug. E.g. Methadone is used as a substitute for heroin. Do drug addicts have a choice? Consider the Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
15
The following are points that you can use as examples of drug therapy as a method of social control… practicality and ethical issues are still the focus… Why is this an issue of social control? Who is in control? TYPE OF POWER If applicable Methadone is used as a substitute for heroin and similar substitutes are being developed for other recreational drugs E.G ethically this is an issue as we are not dealing with the behaviour but creating another addiction. However practically this is a quick method of controlling an addiction to a drug. Society views drug misuse as unhealthy and in some cases illegal e.g.Drug misuse is a problem in society so there is a need to control it. Drug treatments are developed through experimentation on animals e.g this is an ethical issue in itself! Drug treatment is time-consuming and invasive The addict needs to make a commitment to attend counselling and move away from peer group Individual chooses whether to attend the treatment sessions Individual is put on treatment programme as a condition of a court case Many addicts return to their usual environment Some treatments where drugs are used as therapy such as Antipsychotic drugs
16
Tasks for Drug therapy Research Prozac and its side effects
Read article “Anti-depressants soaring” - why are the prescriptions for anti-depressants increasing? What are the advantages of drug therapy? Ensure in your notes you have info on: Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
17
TOKEN ECONOMY Can people change? Consider the Ethical issues
Behaviour is managed using operant conditioning principles and tokens are given as rewards for desirable behaviour. The tokens are then exchanged for something the individual wants. Can people change? Consider the Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
18
Rewards are often items regarded as extras such as watching TV
Why is this an issue of social control? Who is in control? TYPE OF POWER Behaviour management involves identifying which behaviour is desirable/undesirable TEP is used in cases when an individuals behaviour is considered socially undesirable Rewards are often items regarded as extras such as watching TV Some individuals have a mental disorder Staff have to be trained and must stick to the same reward system TEP might work in one environment but not in another Programme may not be properly supervised
19
Tasks for Token Economy
There are questions in your packs – pg 22 – some of these cover what we have already done (who has the power to control) – ensure you have info to answer all those questions… Interesting question about supermarkets using this! Again ensure you have considered: Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
20
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Systematic desensitisation is used to treat phobias. It uses classical conditioning principles as someone learns to associate a previously feared object or situation with a relaxation response instead of a feared response. Aversion therapy also used CC principles to help people stop smoking or give up drinking Can people change? Consider the Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
21
Aversion therapy is used to help people stop smoking or using alcohol
Why is this an issue of social control? Who is in control? TYPE OF POWER Individuals in prisons and other institutions may be pressured into such treatment or made to feel they can’t refuse Aversion therapy is used to help people stop smoking or using alcohol Systematic desensitisation works. Someone being conditioned to avoid alcohol would still need to drink liquids without feeling sick Client and therapist need to build a relationship
22
Tasks for Classical Conditioning / Aversion therapy
Ensure you have info relating to the questions on pg. 22 / 23 Read “when gays were cured” article How was the use of aversion therapy ever justified? Would it ever be justified in the case of paedophilia?
23
THERAPY and the PRACTITIONER
Drugs, CBT, Psychotherapy, token economy etc are all forms of social control. The therapist has the power and is perceived by others as having legitimate power - (therapist is agent of society to shape desired behaviour) Expert power – (expert in the field) Reward power (token economy) Referent Power – the client wants the therapist to ‘cure’ them Do patients have choices? Consider the Ethical issues Practical issues Power of the therapist
24
Tasks for therapy and the Practitioner
Answer the questions on pg 23 of your pack Research how and when psychodynamic therapies are used with mental health patients Read the case study of Beth Rutherford (next slide and pg 23) There is also the “false memory syndrome” article” What issues are raised here?!
25
In Missouri, a church counsellor helped Beth Rutherford to remember during therapy that her father, a clergyman, had regularly raped her between the ages of 7 and l4 and that her mother sometimes helped him by holding her down. Under her therapist's guidance, Rutherford developed memories of her father twice impregnating her and forcing her to abort the foetus herself with a coat hanger. The father had to resign from his post as a clergyman when the allegations were made public. A medical examination of Beth Rutherford revealed that she was still a virgin at age 22 and had never been pregnant. The daughter sued the therapist and received a $l million settlement in 1996.
26
RECAP ~ Which areas that we have studied in AS/A2 raise concerns about social control?
Take a card What practical and ethical issues are raised? Who has the power? Is it appropriate?
27
Systematic desensitisation
Drug therapy Token Economy Systematic desensitisation Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Assertive Community Therapy Media Influence Anorexia Aversion Methadone Maintenance Programme
28
You can read more about the issue of Social Control in
The Angles Text book P The Brain text book P
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.