Social Control Flashcards
Social Control Definition
Social control refers to the mechanisms, strategies, and institutions used by society to regulate individual behaviour and maintain social order. It involves both formal and informal means of ensuring that people conform to societal norms and rules.
Informal Social Control
Definition: Unwritten rules and expectations that guide behaviour, typically enforced by social interactions and peer pressure.
When: Throughout everyday life.
Where: Family, friends, peer groups, workplaces, schools.
Examples:
Shaming someone for bad behaviour (e.g., gossip, social exclusion).
Praise for good behaviour (e.g., compliments, approval from peers).
Non-verbal cues, like disapproval in body language or facial expressions.
Key Theorists:
Emile Durkheim (Functionalist) - Argued that social norms and shared values hold society together.
Howard Becker - Stated that deviance is socially constructed, and individuals are labelled as deviant through social reactions.
Criticism: Informal social control can be too subjective and stigmatise individuals who don’t fit social expectations.
Formal Social Control
Definition: Official, institutionalised means of regulating behaviour through laws, rules, and authorities.
When: In situations that require legal or institutional intervention.
Where: Government, police, courts, schools, workplaces.
Examples:
Laws that criminalise acts like theft, assault, or fraud.
School rules that punish disruptive behaviour (e.g., detention).
Police enforcement, arresting individuals for breaking laws.
Courts that pass sentences on those convicted of crimes.
Key Theorists:
Max Weber (Sociologist) - Focused on legal-rational authority in modern societies
where rules and laws are enacted by institutions.
Foucault - Explored how modern societies use disciplinary power (e.g., prisons, schools) to regulate individuals and maintain social order.
Criticism: Formal social control can lead to institutionalisation and over-policing of certain groups, particularly in marginalised communities.
Positive Social Control
Definition: Social control that encourages and rewards acceptable behaviour.
When: In everyday interactions and institutional settings.
Where: In families, workplaces, schools, social groups.
Examples:
Praise for meeting societal expectations (e.g., academic success, positive behaviour).
Promotions or rewards for employees who follow company policies.
Public recognition for good citizenship (e.g., awards for community service).
Key Theorists:
Talcott Parsons - Argued that social control helps individuals internalise social norms and values.
Albert Cohen (Subcultural Theory) - Focused on how subcultures develop their own systems of social control, where behaviours seen as deviant in the mainstream culture are rewarded within the subculture.
Criticism: Positive control can sometimes lead to over-conformity, where individuals follow norms even when they are not beneficial to themselves or society.
Negative Social Control
Definition: Social control that punishes or discourages deviant or undesirable behaviour.
When: When individuals or groups break societal norms or laws.
Where: Criminal justice system, schools, workplaces.
Examples:
Fines or imprisonment for criminal behaviour.
Detention or exclusion from school for breaking rules.
Social ostracism or bullying for not conforming to group norms.
Key Theorists:
Durkheim (Functionalist) - Argued that punishment is a way of reinforcing society’s norms and values by making examples of deviant behaviour.
Merton (Strain Theory) - Suggested that individuals resort to deviance when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals through legitimate means.
Criticism: Negative social control can lead to marginalisation, alienation, and the labelling of individuals as deviant, as described in Labelling Theory by Howard Becker.
Social Control In Media
Definition: The influence that media has in shaping and regulating behaviour through representation and cultural norms.
When: Media consumption influences attitudes and behaviours across all stages of life.
Where: Television, social media, advertising, news, entertainment.
Examples:
Portrayal of crime in the media influences perceptions of deviance and punishment.
Social media platforms controlling content, banning users, or promoting specific behaviours.
Advertising encouraging consumption, beauty standards, or social norms.
Key Theorists:
Althusser (Marxist) - Argued that media is an ideological state apparatus used by the ruling class to reinforce social control.
Goffman (Interactionist) - Studied the “presentation of self”, where individuals adopt social norms portrayed in media to shape their identity.
Criticism: The media’s representation of social control can perpetuate stereotypes and may be used to manipulate public opinion or maintain the status quo.
