Social Control: An Introduction

What is social control? How do social controls become part of everyday life? What role does the criminal justice system play in exerting control? Is the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness a form of social control? Do we need more social controls to prevent terrorist atrocities?

In this third edition of his popular introduction, James J. Chriss carefully guides readers through the debates about social control. The book provides a comprehensive guide to historical debates and more recent controversies, examining in detail the criminal justice system, medicine, national security, and everyday life. Chriss blends theoretical discussion with a rich range of contemporary examples to illustrate the ways in which social control is exerted and maintained. The updated edition includes new or expanded material on autism, trauma and PTSD, sports participation, the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, domestic terrorism, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing importance of social media in surveillance and informal control, among other topics.

Social Control is essential reading for students taking courses in deviance and social control, and will also appeal to those studying criminology, the sociology of law, and medical sociology.