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Social control

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Social control

Noun1. social control - control exerted (actively or passively) by group action

The

mechanism that helps society and its subdivisions (groups and organizations) to secure the observance of restrictions whose violation hampers the functioning of the social system. Examples of such restrictions are legal and moral standards, customs, and administrative regulations. The practice of social control is essentially the application of various sanctions against violators of social 5/7/12 restrictions. Social control also provides

Sociologists identify two basic forms of social controls:

Internalisation of norms and values, and sanctions, which can be either positive (rewards) or negative (punishment).

External

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norms
The

rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. These rules may be explicit or implicit.

Failure to stick to the rules can result in severe punishments, the most feared of which is exclusion from the group. A common rule is that the some norms must frequently be displayed; neutrality is seldom an option.
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Example:
for

example with 'dirty looks' when people act outside the norms group norm amongst academics is that dress is casual (with the underlying implication that what goes on in the mind is more important than what goes on the body).

A common

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Valu es Important and enduring beliefs or ideals

shared by the members of a culture about what is good or desirable and what is not. Values exert major influence on the behavior of an individual and serve as broad guidelines in all situations.

Mores
The accepted traditional customs and usages of a particular social group. Moral attitudes. Manners; ways.

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sanctions
A penalty,

specified or in the form of moral pressure, that acts to ensure compliance or conformity. A coercive measure adopted usually by several nations acting together against a nation violating international law.

Taboos
o

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A ban or an inhibition resulting from social custom or emotional aversion. o a. A prohibition, especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands, excluding something from use, approach, or mention

Informal social control

The social values that are present in individuals are products of informal social control. It is exercised by a society without explicitly stating these rules and is expressed through customs, norms, and mores. Individuals are socialized whether consciously or subconsciously. During informal sanctions, ridicule or ostracism can cause a straying towards norms. The person internalizes these mores and norms. Traditional society uses mostly informal social control embedded in its customary culture relying on the socialization of its members Informal sanctions may include shame, ridicule, sarcasm, criticism and disapproval. In extreme cases sanctions may include social discrimination and exclusion. This implied social control usually has more effect on individuals because they become internalized and thus an aspect of personality. Informal sanctions check 'deviant' behavior. An example of a negative sanction comes from a scene in the Pink Floyd film 'The Wall,' whereby the young protagonist is ridiculed and verbally abused by a high school teacher for writing poetry in a mathematics class. (Another example: About a boy, who hesitates to jump from a high springboard, is possible to say, that he is effeminate. By the fact, that he eventually jumps, he escapes from this denotation. His behavior is conditionally controlled by a shame, which is unpleasant.[3])

As with formal controls, informal controls reward or punish acceptable or unacceptable behaviour (i.e., deviance). Informal controls are varied and differ from individual to individual, group to group and society to society. For example, at a women's institute meeting, a disapproving look might convey the message that it is inappropriate to flirt with the minister. In a criminal gang, on the other hand, a stronger sanction applies in the case 5/7/12of someone threatening to inform to the police

Formal social control

Formal

social control is expressed It is conducted by government and organizations using law enforcement mechanisms and other formal sanctions such as fines and imprisonment.[2] In democratic societies the goals and mechanisms of formal social control are determined through legislation by elected representatives and thus enjoy a measure of support from the population and voluntary compliance.

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Applications of social control theory

Indoctrination systemic rules

bias

and issue decrees

Censorship Expulsion limits

on political freedom state surveillance

police mass
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