SOCIAL CONTROL

1. MEANING AND DEFINITIONS

2. NEEDS AND AGENTS
3. MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
4. TYPES OF SOCIAL CONTROL
5. ROLES AND CHALLENGES
6. CONCLUSION
Presented by:
AMB4125
AMB4126
AMB4127
MEANING OF SOCIAL CONTROL

• Social control refers to the mechanisms,

processes and strategies used by societies
to regulate individual and group behavior,
ensuring conformity to social norms(the
rules or expectations) .
• It is essential for maintaining order,
cohesion (together) and stability within a
community.
 DEFINITION OF SOCIAL CONTROL
Fairchild:
“The sum total of the processes whereby society, or any sub-group
within society, secures conformity to expectation on the part of its
constituent units, individuals, and groups.”
E A Ross
“The system of devices whereby society brings its members into
conformity with the accepted standards of behavior.” .
Ogburn and Nimkoff
The patterns of pressure which a society exerts to maintain order and
established rules.”.
 NEED FOR SOCIAL CONTROL
• Maintain order: Social control helps to keep the status quo of society intact.
• Promote conformity: Social control encourages people to conform to social norms.
• Foster unity: Social control helps to create a sense of solidarity and unity among
people.
• Prevent deviance: Social control helps to prevent negative behavior that goes against
the established norms of society.
• Preserve beliefs: Social control helps to preserve the beliefs and values of society.
• Maintain power: Social control helps to maintain the power of societal leaders.
 AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
• Family: Families are a major influence on
social control, teaching children values,
traditions, and customs.
• Religion: Religious institutions provide
moral guidance and ethical principles that
shape people’s beliefs and behavior.
• Government: The government enforces
external sanctions to prevent chaos and
violence.
 MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
• 1. Formal Means of Social Control
• These are institutionalized and regulated by laws, rules and authorities.
Examples:
• Laws and Legal System: Penalizes deviant behavior (e.g., fines,
imprisonment).
• Government Agencies: Enforces rules through police, courts, and
military.
• Educational Institutions: Promotes discipline and societal values.
• Organizations and Policies: Regulate work ethics and responsibilities
(e.g., labor laws).
• Coercion (force): Physical coercion like imprisonment or death
penalty (through law) and non violent coercion like strike boycott or
non cooperation (between individuals and groups) are means of social
control
 2. INFORMAL MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
• These operate through societal interactions and cultural
norms.
Examples:
• Family: Instills basic values, ethics, and acceptable behavior.
• Peer Groups: Influence through acceptance, encouragement,
or ridicule.
• Religion: Provides moral guidelines and expectations.
• Customs and Traditions: Reinforce norms through long-
standing practices.
• Public Opinion: Shapes behavior through approval or
criticism.
• Media: Influences perceptions and disseminates societal
standards.
• Belief: Belief in religion controls the behavior to a great extent
• Ideologies: The communication of ideologies like gandhism, capitalism,
communism etc by which the social behavior of the individuals is controlled
• Folkways: Informal rules of behavior based on habit and tradition ( how
to eat, what to wear)
• Mores: Things that ought to be done ( saluting flag, standing national
anthem.
• Art and literature: A purposeful classical dance as art and religious epics
like bible, Ramayana etc.
• Humor and Satire: Cartoons, comics etc. as a part of humor and satires
as indirect criticism of actions harmful to help in maintaining the social
values
• Public opinion: In villages people know each other even otherwise the
fear of public criticism and the need of recognition by individuals makes
to control his behavior
 TYPES OF SOCIAL CONTROL
• Direct Social Control:
Explicit measures like laws or
disciplinary actions to regulate
behavior.
• Indirect Social Control:
Subtle influences like socialization,
peer pressure, and cultural
expectations.
 CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL CONTROL
• Globalization and diverse cultural
norms.
• Rising individualism and resistance
to conformity.
• Ineffectiveness of informal control in
modern societies.
• Abuse of formal control mechanisms
leading to inequality.
 ROLES OF SOCIAL CONTROL
1. Maintaining Social Order: Ensures that individuals
follow societal norms and avoid disruptive behaviors.
2. Prevention of Crime and Deviance: Discourages
criminal activities and behavior that deviates from
accepted standards.
3. Promoting Social Cohesion: Encourages individuals
to work together for the collective good and
harmony of society.
4. Regulation of Behavior: Guides individuals on how
to behave in different social contexts.
 CONCLUSION

• Social control is essential for order, stability,and

harmony in society
• Balance use of formal and informal methods is
necessary for essential for effective governence