Social Order & Social Control

Informal Social Control

• Definition: These are the unofficial, everyday ways that people reinforce norms through interpersonal interaction.
• Mechanisms: Examples include smiles, praise, or inclusion (positive) and gossip, ridicule, or social ostracism (negative). These are most effective in primary groups like families or small friend circles.

Formal Social Control

• Definition: These are the official, institutionalized methods used by authorized agents to enforce laws and regulations.
• Mechanisms: This involves the legal system, police, and judicial bodies. Sanctions include fines, imprisonment, or official recognition like awards and promotions.

• The primary difference between formal and informal control lies in the source of authority and the degree of institutionalization.

• Positive vs. Negative Sanctions: Positive sanctions are rewards for conformity (e.g., a scholarship), while negative sanctions are punishments for deviance (e.g., a prison sentence).

• Identify the Agent: When analyzing a scenario, first identify who is exerting the control. If it is a government body or an employer acting in an official capacity, it is formal; if it is a friend or stranger acting spontaneously, it is informal.

• Distinguish Sanction Types: Remember that sanctions can be both positive and negative. Students often forget that rewards (positive sanctions) are a form of social control designed to encourage future conformity.

• Relativity of Deviance: Always check the context. What is considered 'deviant' (and thus subject to social control) varies by culture, time period, and specific social situation.

• Internalization Check: If a question describes someone following a rule when no one is watching, the answer is likely 'internalization' or 'self-control' rather than an external mechanism.

• Control is not only Punishment: A common mistake is equating social control only with negative consequences. In reality, positive reinforcement is a powerful and frequent tool for maintaining order.

• Deviance is not inherently 'Evil': In sociology, deviance simply means breaking a norm. Social control is the reaction to that break, regardless of whether the act is morally 'bad' or 'good' in a universal sense.

• Total Control is Impossible: No society achieves perfect social order. There is always a tension between individual agency and social control mechanisms.