500 word essay

Discussion Essay

Name

Academic Institution

April 1, 2019

Discussion Essay

Social control plays a major role in my own life since it dictates what I should do and what I should not. This element claims a degree of my liberty to make choices since I am compelled to please society or find myself in trouble. By this, I am expected to socialize with a certain class of people or else breaking this norm may leave people feeling disappointed with me. I am also expected to carry myself in accordance with my age or else people will think that I have lost my mind or being childish, while as I may simply be in a mood to let loose and just live my life in a care free way even for a moment, because after all it is my life.

On the other hand, social control helps to shape my life in becoming a responsible youth, and the desire to meet this expectation helps in clearing my perception of matters, which also develops my perspective in relation to what society considers moral or immoral. For example, it shapes my position regarding some activities that I would otherwise consider fun yet in the real sense are criminal in nature. As a young person, I feel energetic and adventurous and fun for me is anything thrilling (Lilly et al., 2011). Presently, there are many activities that a young person can indulge in for a thrilling experience. They could include crazy driving, trying out drugs and other substances, or a weekend getaway spree under no adult supervision, just to mention but a few. However, social control comes in handy and redirects such contemplations through the guiding sense it offers through the wisdom of experienced adults such as my parents, teachers, and other guardians in my life.

The power of social influence from my community has helped to develop a sense of commitment within me to follow our social norms. As such, I would say that I see the effect of Travis Hirschi’s social bond theory, which supposes that delinquency occurs in the absence of, or when social bonds are weak (Hirschi, 2002). However, crime is easily averted when social bonds are strong. As such, in an event of social deviance, the strong association I share with parents and community plays a vital role of dissuading me from indulging in delinquency because I have accepted the social conditions of my social group.

Social conditioning has helped me to become a college student instead of being involved in criminal activity. I come from a family that does not take misbehavior kindly. Getting involved in criminal activity is met with harshness from my parents, my father especially. I remember this time immediately after receiving my college acceptance letter. A new neighbor moved in with their two sons of my age and I was more than thrilled to have them for company. Apparently, both boys were using pot and they introduced me on this rainy Saturday evening (Lilly et al., 2011). My first experience set me out of control and I lost my ability to control my actions so that they had to call my father to take me home.

My father was not impressed. After the daze cleared, he gave me two options. To accompany him to the boys’ house and inform their parents of my misconduct in their house with their sons while they were away, make an apology, and end our friendship. The second option was to visit a police station and report that I had began using pot. Of course I went for the first option. The experience was nothing short of embarassing but I decided never to involve myself in such activities again just to avoid the wrath of my father.

References

Hirschi, T. (2002). Causes of delinquency. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers.

Lilly, J., Cullen, F. & Ball, R. (2011). Criminological theory : context and consequences. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications.