Social Control
Meaning of Social Control
Social control means the way in which society regulates the behavior of
its members so that they act according to accepted norms, values, and
rules.
It is the mechanism by which individuals are guided to behave in ways
that maintain social order and harmony.
Social control is society’s way of keeping people’s actions within
acceptable limits so that life in a community remains organized, stable,
and cooperative.
Definition of Social Control:
E.A. Ross: "Social control refers to the system of devices whereby
society brings its members into conformity with the accepted standards
of behavior.“
MacIver and Page: "Social control is the way in which the entire social
order coheres and maintains itself."
Nature of Social Control:
1. Universal Phenomenon:
Social control is found in all societies – primitive, modern, rural, or urban.
Every group uses some form of control (customs, traditions, religion, or
law) to regulate behavior.
2. Continuity and Permanence:
Social control is a continuous process, operating from birth till death.
For example, parents, schools, religious institutions, and legal systems all
regulate behavior throughout life.
3. Dual in character; Formal and Informal :
Formal: Legal codes, government rules, court judgments, police
enforcement.
Informal: Customs, traditions, religion, morality, and public opinion.
4. Restrictive and Prescriptive :
It restricts deviant or harmful behavior.
It prescribes desirable behavior (e.g., respect for rights, duties, morality).
5. Dynamic in Nature :
Social control changes with society, culture, and technology.
For example, cyber laws were created as a new form of legal control to
regulate online crimes.
*Types of Social Control*
1. Formal control :
I. Law :
Law is the most important formal means of social control which defines rights and duties as well
as punishment and reward.
Rules regulations define the require types of behavior.
II. Legislation :
Legislation acknowledges the social discipline.
It provides the limitation of accountability of people in society.
III. Military Force and Police Force :
Military gets ready when there comes possible attack on nation and nationality.
They protect from antagonistic force either form outside of the country or inside it.
IV. Administrative devices :
Administration is very powerful and the most effective instrument for controlling society.
Police, bureaucrat, administration are the formal wings of controlling mechanism of society.
V. Political :
Politics govern the nation by imposing political authority.
All development and managerial phenomenon are under control of political mechanism.
VI. Education :
It reforms the attitude wrongly formed by children already.
It teaches the value of discipline, social cooperation, tolerance and sacrifice.
VII. Economic :
Economic determines the mode of production
Human substantial intake is under the control of economic structure.
2. Informal control :
I. Public Opinion :
Public opinion is the unorthodox verbal controlling means of human behavior
in society.
Specially it prescribes ethical considerations informally.
II. Norms :
Social practices are norms which have direct or indirect influence over us.
It is a blue print of human behavior to accomplish social accountability.
III.Values :
Social values explain the potentialities which create impact pressure.
Values account for the stability of the social order.
IV. Folkways :
Folkways are the symbolical impact of human society.
Folkways are the traditional songs of particular caste which identify cultural
traits.
V. Mores :
It considers to strict social practices varies from society to society.
Mores to those practices which are considered by the group to be essential
for its welfare and existence.
It is speaking the truth, don’t commit adultery, don’t tell lies, don’t
disrespect of god, etc
VI. Customs :
Namaste, clapping hand, worshiping are customs which have descriptive
impact on our social life.
Customs refers to “practices that have been repeated by a large number of
generations, practices that tend to be followed simply because they have
been followed in the past”
VII. Fashion :
Fashion makes society alive.
Fashion indirectly affect cultural behavior in society.
Thus no woman want to attend a dinner party in a night dress.
