Controlling Behavior
In the mid-eighteenth century, social philosophers started arguments against cruel crime punishments. They argued to rid of cruel public executions designed to frighten people into obeying the laws. The Reformers believed that crime and punishment should be balanced with fair punishments. Cesare Beccaria, one of the first Italian scholars developed a systematic understanding of why people commit crimes. When people make behavioral choices their goals are achieving pleasure and avoiding pain. Crimes often happen when pleasure of the crime outweigh pains of punishment. He believed in utilitarianism, which is a theory in normative ethics holding that the proper course of actions that maximize happiness and reduce suffering. His famous theory was that in order for punishment to be effective it must be public, prompt, necessary, the least possible in the given circumstances, proportionate, and dictated by law. The writings of Cesare Beccaria and his supporters formed classical criminology in our modern day.
Although law is the main source of social control, there are other forms that can be practiced amongst ourselves. An important influence of social control is the family, use effective teaching mechanisms as a parent. Neighborhood watch programs are another form of informal social control. Helping your neighbors through surveillance practices by keeping an "eye out" for any disturbances. Institutional social control include: Businesses, schools, churches, social services, and volunteer organizations. Some institutions are recreation centers for teens that have been found to lower crime rates because they offer activities and a positive environment. The government provides assistance through funded social and welfare programs to those in need. Both citizens and the government can assist to ones in need by donating to people sponsoring these programs. Lending a hand to help people find the right resources to assist them with financial...