Ateneo - UPO

The module analyzes social control from the perspective of "critical criminology," which views it as the set of mechanisms, practices, and institutions through which societies regulate individual and collective behaviors to maintain and legitimize the status quo.

The reference texts will be communicated during the introductory lecture.

The module aims to achieve the following objectives:
understand the connection between social control and power in contemporary societies; acquire tools for critically analyzing mechanisms of social control and their implications for social inequalities; explore the role of institutions in regulating social behaviors; develop critical skills to analyze contemporary phenomena such as digital surveillance, security policies, etc., and to recognize and evaluate forms of resistance to social control as expressions of power.

None

To achieve the educational objectives, theoretical lectures will be supplemented with exercises, including the use of audiovisual materials and literary excerpts, where students will have the opportunity to apply the theoretical concepts learned to specific cases.
Attendance is therefore recommended.

The educational material used during the lessons will be made available to students on the DIR online platform.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The assessment of the degree of learning of the theoretical content discussed in the module will take place through a final written exam (duration of the written exam: 2 hours).
The final evaluation includes a series of open-ended questions on the content of the exam texts.

From the perspective of critical criminology, social control is considered a means of exercising power and domination, where norms and laws reflect the interests of political, cultural, and economic elites. The roles of certain institutions in the production of social control will therefore be explored. The relationships between control, power, and social inequalities will be examined in depth, with a focus on topics such as deviance, surveillance, and forms of resistance.

Regarding the assessment of learning, students must demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge to explore the role of institutions in regulating social behaviors, critically analyze contemporary phenomena such as digital surveillance, security policies, etc., and recognize and evaluate forms of resistance to social control as expressions of power.