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Unlock This CourseEvery society needs ways to make sure people follow its rules. Imagine what would happen if everyone just did whatever they wanted! Social control refers to the different ways society encourages or forces people to follow its norms and values. Today, we're focusing on formal social control - the official, organised methods used by authorities to keep society in order.
Key Definitions:
Formal control involves official rules, written laws and specific punishments enforced by authorities like police or teachers.
Informal control happens through everyday interactions - like your friends teasing you for wearing something unusual, or your parents giving you a disapproving look.
Formal control helps maintain social order when informal methods aren't enough. It provides:
Several major institutions work together to maintain formal social control. Each has specific roles and powers to enforce society's rules.
The legal system is the backbone of formal social control in modern societies. It creates, interprets and enforces the official rules (laws) that everyone must follow.
Parliament creates laws that define what behaviours are acceptable and which are criminal. These laws reflect society's values and change over time as values shift.
Courts determine if people have broken laws and decide on appropriate punishments. Different courts handle different types of cases, from minor offences to serious crimes.
Punishments can include fines, community service, or imprisonment. The severity usually matches the seriousness of the crime.
The UK has a complex legal system with different courts handling different types of cases:
This hierarchical system ensures that cases are dealt with at the appropriate level, with more serious offences receiving more formal attention.
Police are the most visible agents of formal social control in everyday life. They have special powers to enforce laws and maintain public order.
Key roles of the police:
Police have powers that ordinary citizens don't have, such as the ability to stop and search people under certain conditions, make arrests and use reasonable force when necessary. However, these powers are regulated by laws to prevent abuse.
Prisons represent the most severe form of formal social control in most societies. They serve multiple purposes in the social control system:
Sociologists debate whether prisons effectively reduce crime. Some argue they:
Schools don't just teach academic subjects - they're also powerful institutions of formal social control that prepare young people to fit into society.
How schools enforce social control:
Most UK schools have detailed behaviour policies that outline:
These formal systems mirror wider society's approach to social control, preparing students for the rules they'll encounter as adults. They're a clear example of how formal social control operates in an institution most young people experience daily.
Different sociological theories view formal social control in different ways:
Functionalists see formal social control as necessary for maintaining social order. They believe it helps society function smoothly by ensuring people follow shared norms and values.
Marxists argue formal social control primarily serves the interests of the powerful. They see institutions like police and courts as tools that protect the wealthy and control the working class.
Interactionists focus on how formal control can label people as "deviant," potentially pushing them toward more deviant behaviour through stigmatisation.
Formal social control is a fundamental part of how modern societies maintain order. Through institutions like the legal system, police, prisons and schools, societies create clear rules and consequences that shape behaviour. While these methods have important strengths, they also have limitations and can affect different groups in society in different ways.
Understanding formal social control helps us recognise how our own behaviour is shaped by these systems and how they contribute to the overall functioning of society. It also helps us think critically about whether these systems are fair and effective and how they might be improved.