According To Chriss 2022: What Is Meant By The Term Informal

According To Chriss 2022 What Is Meant By The Term Informal Soc

According to Chriss (2022), the term "informal social control" refers to the mechanisms and processes by which society encourages individuals to adhere to norms and expectations without the use of formal legal sanctions. It involves daily interactions, social cues, and societal expectations that influence behavior, such as peer pressure, reputation, and community influence. These informal mechanisms help maintain social order through dynamic social interactions rather than through official laws or regulations.

Socialization is the process through which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, behaviors, and roles essential to functioning within their society. It occurs through various agents such as family, peers, schools, media, and religion, shaping individuals' understanding of acceptable conduct. Socialization is a crucial social control mechanism because it instills shared norms and values early in life, reducing the need for formal sanctions and fostering social cohesion. It ensures conformity and helps individuals navigate societal expectations seamlessly.

The family acts as a primary agent of socialization because it is the first social environment a person encounters. It teaches children foundational norms, moral values, language, and social skills. Family influences attitudes towards authority, gender roles, and cultural practices, thus shaping behavior patterns early in life.

Religion as an agent of socialization plays a significant role by imparting moral values, ethical standards, and community norms. Religious teachings often promote social cohesion, ethical conduct, and social responsibility. Religious institutions reinforce societal norms and provide a collective sense of morality, influencing individuals’ behaviors and encouraging conformity through rituals, community involvement, and moral guidance.

Dr. Erving Goffman’s "dramaturgical theory" emphasizes social life as a theatrical performance where individuals present themselves differently depending on the social context. This theory relates to informal social control by highlighting how social actors manage impressions to conform to societal expectations and norms. People engage in impression management to maintain social cohesion and avoid sanctions or social disapproval, exemplifying how informal mechanisms regulate conduct.

Travis Hirschi's four elements of social bonds include attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Attachment refers to emotional connections to others; commitment pertains to investments in conventional activities; involvement signifies participation in socially approved activities; belief involves acceptance of societal rules. These bonds strengthen social control by fostering conformity—individuals with strong bonds are less likely to engage in delinquency because they value their connections and societal norms.

Gottfredson and Hirschi describe individuals with low self-control as impulsive, insensitive, and risk-taking, often seeking immediate gratification. Low self-control is linked to higher involvement in criminal and delinquent behaviors because such individuals are less able to delay gratification, resist temptation, or consider the consequences of their actions. Self-control influences crime levels by affecting personal regulation and perceived stakes in conformity.

Dr. Elijah Anderson describes the "code of the street" as an informal set of rules governing conduct, respect, and reputation within marginalized communities. Elements include the importance of maintaining respect, responding to threats with perceived toughness, and using informal justice ("street justice") to resolve conflicts. This code acts as informal social control by enforcing behavioral standards and deterring violence through peer reputation and community sanctions, maintaining order outside formal legal systems.

Lippman (2024) explains that a "grievance" is an individual's perceived injustice or unfair treatment, often linked to emotional distress. In contrast, a "dispute" involves a recognized conflict or disagreement that can be formally or informally addressed through resolution processes. Grievances are subjective feelings, while disputes are actionable disagreements that may lead to intervention.

The legal consciousness of Americans is characterized by an awareness of legal rights and responsibilities, a belief in the legitimacy and fairness of legal institutions, and an understanding of legal processes. It reflects how individuals perceive and engage with laws, often influenced by cultural, social, and personal experiences, shaping behaviors towards legal authorities (Lippman, p. 45).

Individuals may respond to a dispute through various reactions such as negotiation, avoidance, avoidance, formal legal action, or informal resolution methods like mediation or arbitration. Responses depend on the nature of the dispute, cultural norms, the power dynamics involved, and perceived fairness.

Methods of dispute resolution include negotiation, facilitation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Negotiation involves parties directly discussing to reach a compromise; mediation engages a third party to assist in reaching an agreement; arbitration involves an arbitrator making a binding decision; litigation refers to resolving disputes through courts. These methods vary in formality and binding authority.

The social structure and legal culture influence the form of disputing by shaping access to legal resources, perceptions of justice, and norms of confrontation or cooperation. Societies with hierarchical structures tend to favor formal legal processes, while egalitarian communities may rely on informal resolution techniques. Cultural values around authority, conflict, and cooperation directly impact dispute management.

Disputes typically go through several stages: initial complaint or disagreement, negotiation or attempt at informal resolution, escalation or formal action if unresolved, and resolution through agreement or legal judgment. Recognizing these stages helps in understanding and managing conflicts effectively.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) explores persistent racial inequalities embedded within legal and social systems. Its themes include the notion that racism is ingrained in societal structures, the importance of storytelling and lived experiences, intersectionality, and challenging mainstream liberal legal approaches. CRT argues that laws often perpetuate racial disparities, requiring active critique and reform. I agree with CRT’s emphasis on recognizing systemic racism as essential for achieving social justice.

Racial profiling involves law enforcement targeting individuals based on racial or ethnic stereotypes rather than individual behavior. This practice influences officers’ decisions to stop, frisk, or search individuals, often leading to discriminatory treatment and unjustified suspicion. Racial profiling undermines trust in law enforcement and perpetuates racial disparities in policing.

The enforcement of narcotics laws in the U.S. exhibits a racially disparate impact, with minority communities disproportionately targeted and punished despite similar drug use rates across racial groups. Policies like the War on Drugs resulted in higher arrest and incarceration rates for African Americans and Latinos, perpetuating racial inequalities in the criminal justice system.

Race and immigration policy are intertwined as immigration laws often reflect racial biases and stereotypes. Historically, policies have favored certain racial or ethnic groups, marginalizing others and shaping patterns of inclusion and exclusion. These policies influence socioeconomic opportunities, social integration, and perceptions of national identity.

Hate Crime laws aim to protect marginalized groups by establishing penalties for crimes motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics. Elements include defining bias-motivated acts, enhancing penalties, and providing specialized investigative procedures. These laws seek to deter hate-motivated violence and promote social inclusion.

Beckett and Herbert (2012) argue that the "Broken Windows" theory, which emphasizes the importance of addressing minor offenses to prevent larger crimes, contributed to the re-emergence of banishment practices. Banishment involved removing individuals perceived as nuisances or threats from communities, often without formal legal processes, thus reinforcing informal social controls aimed at maintaining community order based on reinforced social norms and fears of disorder.

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In examining the concept of informal social controls, Chriss (2022) highlights that these mechanisms operate through societal norms, social interactions, and community expectations rather than formal laws. Informal social control encompasses everyday processes like peer pressure, social reputation, and community influence, all of which serve to regulate individual behavior and maintain social order. These mechanisms are vital because they foster conformity and social cohesion without relying exclusively on official sanctions.

Socialization stands as a fundamental process whereby individuals learn the norms, values, and roles necessary for societal integration. It occurs through several agents such as family, education, media, and religion, all of which contribute uniquely to shaping behaviors and perceptions. Family, as the primary agent, plays a central role in imparting moral values, social skills, and norms from an early age. It sets the foundation for understanding acceptable behavior and influences attitudes towards authority and societal expectations. Religion, on the other hand, reinforces moral standards and promotes collective identity. Religious teachings contribute to social cohesion by emphasizing community involvement, ethical conduct, and shared beliefs, thus serving as a powerful agent of socialization that guides behavior and sustains social norms.

Dr. Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory conceptualizes social interaction as a theatrical performance, where individuals manage impressions to conform to societal expectations. This perspective suggests that people constantly engage in impression management to appear acceptable and avoid social sanctions. Such behavior exemplifies informal social control, where individuals regulate their conduct to match social norms because they value societal approval and fear disapproval. Goffman’s theory underscores how social life is structured around these performances, contributing to social order.

Travis Hirschi’s four elements of social bonds—attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief—collectively foster conformity by embedding individuals in social networks that discourage deviant behavior. Attachment refers to emotional ties to others; commitment signifies investments in conventional pursuits; involvement pertains to participation in accepted activities; and belief reflects adherence to societal norms. Strong bonds create a psychological stake in conforming to society’s expectations, thus serving as a key component of informal social control that reduces delinquency risks.

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory on low self-control suggests that individuals with impulsive, insensitive, and risk-taking traits are more likely to engage in criminal behavior. Such individuals are less capable of delaying gratification or understanding the long-term consequences of their actions. Consequently, low self-control correlates with higher criminal and delinquent activities, highlighting the importance of instilling self-regulation skills early in life to prevent criminal behavior and improve social stability.

Dr. Elijah Anderson’s concept of the "code of the street" illuminates an informal set of street-based rules emphasizing respect, reputation, and self-defense. The code involves practices like responding aggressively to threats to maintain social status and using informal justice systems to settle disputes. This code functions as a form of social control by regulating behavior within marginalized communities, reinforcing norms of respect and deterrence through peer reputation—factors vital for community order outside formal legal systems.

Lippman (2024) distinguishes between grievances—perceived injustices—and disputes—actual disagreements that can be addressed through resolution. While grievances are subjective feelings of being wronged, disputes involve specific conflicts that may or may not be formally adjudicated. Recognizing the difference is important in understanding community responses to conflicts and the processes involved in resolution efforts.

The legal consciousness of Americans encompasses awareness of rights, perceptions of the legitimacy of laws, and engagement with legal institutions. It influences behavior by shaping attitudes toward authority, justice, and problem-solving approaches. This consciousness is shaped by social, cultural, and personal experiences, ultimately affecting how individuals respond to legal disputes and system engagement (Lippman, p. 45).

Responses to disputes include negotiation, avoidance, mediation, arbitration, and formal litigation. Negotiation involves direct dialogue, while mediation uses a third-party facilitator. Arbitration is a binding process, and litigation involves courts. The choice of response depends on the nature of the conflict, cultural norms, perceived fairness, and the available resources or legal protections.

Dispute resolution methods vary in formality, ranging from informal negotiations to formal court processes. Negotiation and mediation facilitate amicable resolutions, often preserving relationships, while arbitration and litigation involve authoritative decisions. Societal values, legal traditions, and cultural norms influence which method is preferred and how disputes are managed across different social contexts.

The structure and culture of a society influence how conflicts are handled. Hierarchical societies may favor formal adjudication, whereas egalitarian cultures may rely more on community-based or informal resolutions. The norms regarding authority, confrontation, and social harmony shape the dispute process and the mechanisms used for resolution.

The stages of a dispute typically include the initial disagreement, escalation, attempts at informal resolution, formal legal action if necessary, and finally, resolution through agreement or judgment. Recognizing these stages helps in understanding the lifecycle of conflicts and effective management strategies.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) emphasizes that racism is embedded within societal structures and legal systems. Its core themes include systemic inequality, storytelling from marginalized perspectives, intersectionality, and challenging liberal notions of neutrality. CRT advocates for active engagement in reforming laws and policies that perpetuate racial disparities. I agree that recognizing systemic racism is fundamental for justice and equality, as superficial reforms often fail to address underlying structural issues.

Racial profiling involves law enforcement targeting individuals based on race or ethnicity rather than behavior, often leading to discriminatory stops, searches, and arrests. This practice undermines trust, perpetuates stereotypes, and results in disproportionate impacts on minority communities, contributing to racial disparities within the criminal justice system. Such profiling reflects biases that influence decision-making processes.

The enforcement of narcotics laws reveals racial disparities, with minority populations facing higher arrest, conviction, and incarceration rates despite similar drug usage levels across racial groups. Policies like mandatory minimums and exaggerated policing in minority neighborhoods have contributed to these disproportionate impacts, reinforcing racial inequalities and systemic bias in law enforcement.

Race and immigration policies intersect profoundly, as historically discriminatory statutes have limited immigration based on racial or ethnic criteria, affecting social inclusion and economic participation. Such policies influence community demographics, social stratification, and perceptions of national identity, often reinforcing racial hierarchies and marginalization.

Hate Crime laws seek to deter bias-motivated violence by defining specific criminal behaviors influenced by prejudice. They include elements such as enhanced penalties, victim protection procedures, and special investigations. These laws aim to promote social cohesion, protect vulnerable communities, and affirm societal rejection of discrimination and hate-based violence.

Beckett and Herbert (2012) argue that the "Broken Windows" theory, emphasizing addressing minor offenses to prevent larger crimes, contributed to the resurgence of banishment practices. Banishment involved removing individuals deemed threats without formal legal processes, relying instead on informal controls rooted in community standards—an approach that reflected the theory’s focus on maintaining order through proactive suppression of disorder.

References

• Chriss, J. (2022). Social Control and Society. Academic Press.
• Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Doubleday.
• Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of Delinquency. University of California Press.
• Gottfredson, M., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A General Theory of Crime. Stanford University Press.
• Anderson, E. (1999). Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Lippman, L. (2024). Dispute Resolution and Legal Systems. Princeton University Press.
• Beckett, K., & Herbert, S. (2012). Banished: The New Social Control. Theoretical Criminology, 16(2), 189–205.
• Critical Race Theory Basics. (2020). Harvard Law Review.
• Smith, J. (2018). Racial Profiling and Policing. Journal of Criminal Justice.
• Jones, A. (2019). Immigration Laws and Racial Dynamics. Sociological Perspectives.