Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseEvery society needs ways to make sure people follow the rules. This is called social control. Without it, there would be chaos! Social control helps maintain order and ensures that most people behave in ways that society expects.
Key Definitions:
This involves official rules, written laws and clear punishments. It's carried out by official agencies like the police, courts and prisons. Breaking these rules can lead to official sanctions like fines, community service or imprisonment.
This involves unwritten rules and social pressure. It happens through disapproval, gossip, or being left out by friends and family. Examples include frowning at someone who jumps a queue or your parents being disappointed when you break a promise.
Different parts of society help keep us following the rules. Let's look at the main ones:
The family is usually the first place we learn about rules and acceptable behaviour. Parents and other family members teach us what's right and wrong from a very young age.
The family's influence is mostly informal but very powerful because of the emotional bonds involved. Children often want to please their parents and avoid disappointing them.
Schools don't just teach academic subjects – they also teach students how to behave in society. This is sometimes called the 'hidden curriculum'.
Schools use both formal methods (like detentions) and informal methods (like teacher approval). They prepare young people for the workplace by teaching punctuality, following instructions and respecting authority.
Many UK schools now use behaviour management systems like ClassDojo or coloured card systems (green, amber, red) to control student behaviour. These systems make social control visible and consistent. They often include both rewards (house points, certificates) and sanctions (detentions, calls home to parents). Research suggests that positive reinforcement (rewards) is generally more effective than punishment for encouraging good behaviour.
Religious institutions have been powerful agents of social control throughout history. They provide moral guidelines and often the idea that a higher power is watching your behaviour.
While religious influence has declined in the UK, it remains significant for many people and communities. Religious leaders still have authority and can influence followers' behaviour.
The media (including TV, newspapers, social media) shapes our ideas about what's normal and acceptable. It can reinforce or challenge society's rules.
Social media has created new forms of social control through 'likes', comments and the potential for public shaming. 'Cancel culture' is a modern example of informal social control through the media.
Friends and people our own age have a huge influence on our behaviour, especially during teenage years. Methods include teasing, exclusion and approval. Example: Teenagers following fashion trends to fit in with friends.
Jobs come with rules and expectations. Methods include contracts, performance reviews and promotion opportunities. Example: Being required to dress smartly for certain professional roles.
The most formal agency of social control. Methods include laws, police, courts and prisons. Example: Speed cameras and fines to control driving behaviour.
Social control isn't just about punishment – it's also about rewards for good behaviour. Most people follow rules because:
Functionalists believe social control is necessary for society to function properly. They see it as positive because it creates shared values and prevents chaos. Without social control, they argue that society would break down.
Marxists see social control as a way for powerful groups to maintain their dominance. They argue that laws and norms often benefit the wealthy and powerful while controlling the working class. For example, harsh penalties for theft but lighter sentences for corporate fraud.
Social media has created new forms of social control. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people who broke lockdown rules were often 'named and shamed' on social media platforms. This is an example of informal social control through public disapproval. The fear of being filmed breaking rules and having the footage shared online became a powerful deterrent. This shows how technology has created new ways for social control to operate, with ordinary people now able to enforce social norms through digital means.
Social control changes over time. Some key trends include:
Different societies also have different approaches to social control. Some rely more on formal methods (like Singapore with its strict laws and penalties), while others emphasise informal community control.
Social control is essential for society to function. Without it, we would struggle to live together peacefully. However, there are important debates about how much control is necessary and who benefits from particular rules and norms.
The different agencies of social control work together to shape our behaviour from childhood through to adulthood. Understanding these influences helps us recognise the forces that shape our choices and actions every day.