Informal Means of Social Control and Criminal Behaviour in Rural Communities in Asa LGA, Kwara State
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Date
2021
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FUDMA Journal of Politics and International Affairs, Department of Political Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria.
Abstract
It is no news that crime in Nigeria is becoming more alarming than ever. This menace has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian society where law and order are not taken into cognizance by many anymore. Despite the efforts of the country's government in establishing formal social controls (such as the police, courts, formal laws, etc.) to curb this social hazard, the ineffectiveness of these controls are visible. This is why the study was carried out to understand if a supportive control measure (informal social control) could help in reducing or curbing crime. The quantitative method of data collection was used in gathering the data used for the study while Travis Hirschi's social control theory was employed in theorizing the subject matter. The data was gathered through a three-stage sampling technique where one hundred and seventy-seven (177) respondents were chosen as respondents. After the data were gathered, the regression analysis tool was employed in drawing conclusions for the purpose of recommending actions to be taken by all affected stakeholders. the study concluded that native court rulings, fines and compensations, and naming and shaming are the most effective informal social control tools. However, these control tools meet with different challenges, chief of which is the family's inability to socialize its new and existing members to become functional societal member. It was then recommended based on the findings that the family should perform its duties to act as the first agent of socialization while governments at all levels should implement informal means of social controls that have been fading away
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Keywords
Crime, Social, Control, Informal means, Deviant Behaviour
Citation
Raji, A. (2021); Informal Means of Social Control and Criminal Behaviour in Rural Communities in Asa LGA, Kwara State.; FUDMA Journal of Politics and International Affairs, 4 (2) 129-139.