ABSTRACT
Sociology, which claims for itself the widest of perspectives, remains fragmented into various sub-disciplines such as the sociology of education, politics or industry and there is little cross-fertilisation between them. C. Wright Mills in his analysis of elites was similarly concerned with the wider social structure, and the empirical findings of Bernstein on the effectiveness of teaching are related to considerations of knowledge as a social construct. The factors which influence the nature of informal norms are very complex and an approach which stresses compensations for the pains of imprisonment is only a beginning. For example, in some single-sex, total residential institutions, homosexual behaviour are an important part of the inmate world and there is a well-defined pattern of homosexual activity. To establish or maintain a consensus on the goals of the institution and to regulate members' role performance, staff and inmates are subject to various forms of social control.
