Social Control Flashcards
What is meant by ‘social control’?
The mechanisms, strategies, and institutions used to regulate individual behaviors and maintain social order
Social control can be formal or informal and is essential for societal functioning.
What are agents of social control?
Individuals or institutions that enforce norms and rules in society
Examples include family, peers, schools, and government.
What is the difference between informal and formal social control?
Informal social control involves unofficial sanctions, while formal social control involves laws and official institutions
Informal controls can include praise or grounding, while formal controls include legal penalties.
What are positive sanctions?
Rewards or incentives for conforming to societal norms
Examples include praise for good behavior or medals in sports.
What are negative sanctions?
Punishments or penalties for violating societal norms
Examples include prison sentences or fines.
Fill in the blank: Agents of social control include _______.
[family, peers, schools, government]
True or False: Informal social control only involves punishments.
False
Informal social control can also involve rewards, such as praise.
What role does the media play in social control?
The media socializes individuals into societal norms, such as gender roles
It influences perceptions and behaviors through representation.
What is the purpose of teaching children about social norms?
To prepare them for functional adulthood in society
Education helps instill knowledge and values important for social integration.
What is an example of formal negative sanction?
Prison sentence
This is a legal consequence for breaking the law.
What are some examples of informal positive sanctions?
Praise for doing well, rewards from parents
These sanctions encourage desirable behaviors without formal enforcement.
Formal Social Control
The authorised institutions governed by law that reinforce and control norms and values of cultural groups
Informal Social Control
Based of the approval or disapproval of those around us who we regard as important
How does education play a role in formal social control?
Teaches children norms and values to create functional adults for society
How does the government play a role in formal social control
It enforces a good quality of life, introduces laws and maintains order in society
