Social Control » Family and Social Control

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

How families act as agents of social control
The difference between formal and informal social control in families
Primary socialisation and its importance
How families enforce norms and values
Changes in family control across different societies
Gender differences in family social control

🔒 Unlock Full Course Content

Unlock This Course

Introduction to Family and Social Control

The family is one of the most important agents of social control in society. From the moment we're born, our families begin to shape our behaviour, teaching us what's acceptable and what isn't. This process continues throughout our lives, though the methods and intensity may change as we grow up.

Key Definitions:

Social Control: The ways society encourages or forces its members to follow rules and meet expectations.
Primary Socialisation: The process during early childhood when we first learn norms, values and social skills from our family.
Norms: Expected behaviours in specific situations (like saying "please" and "thank you").
Values: Beliefs about what is important, right or wrong (like honesty or respect).

📝 Formal Social Control

This involves clear rules and specific punishments. In families, this might include:

Setting curfews
Grounding children for bad behaviour
Taking away privileges (like phone or TV time)
Creating chore charts with rewards

🤔 Informal Social Control

This is more subtle and often unconscious. Examples include:

Praising "good" behaviour
Showing disappointment
Role modelling
Facial expressions (frowning at bad behaviour)
Body language and tone of voice

How Families Exercise Social Control

Families use various methods to ensure children learn and follow society's rules. These methods change as children grow and develop.

Primary Socialisation

This is the first and most important stage of socialisation. During our early years (0-5), our family teaches us:

Basic skills (talking, eating, personal hygiene)
Appropriate behaviour
Cultural practices and traditions
Language and communication
Gender roles and expectations

Research shows that what we learn during primary socialisation forms the foundation for our future behaviour and can be difficult to change later in life.

Case Study Focus: The Feral Child

The case of Genie, discovered in 1970 in California, shows the importance of family socialisation. Genie was kept isolated in a room until age 13, with minimal human contact. When found, she couldn't speak, walk properly, or interact socially. Despite intensive therapy, she never fully developed normal language or social skills, demonstrating how crucial early family socialisation is for human development.

Methods of Control in Families

💡 Positive Reinforcement

Rewarding good behaviour to encourage it:

Praise and compliments
Treats and rewards
Privileges and freedom

🚫 Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant when rules are followed:

Lifting restrictions
Removing extra chores
Stopping nagging

⛔ Punishment

Consequences for breaking rules:

Time-outs
Grounding
Loss of privileges
Verbal discipline

Changes in Family Social Control

How families control children's behaviour has changed significantly over time and varies between cultures:

📅 Historical Changes

In the past, family social control was often:

More authoritarian ("children should be seen and not heard")
Physical punishment was common and accepted
Strict gender roles were enforced
Children had fewer rights and less say

Modern families tend to be more democratic, with rules explained rather than just imposed and children having more input into family decisions.

🌎 Cultural Differences

Family social control varies across cultures:

Collectivist cultures (like many Asian societies) often emphasise obedience, respect for elders and family reputation
Individualist cultures (like the UK and US) may focus more on independence and self-expression
Religious families may use spiritual teachings as a form of social control
Extended families may have multiple authority figures involved in socialisation

Gender and Family Social Control

Research suggests that boys and girls often experience different types of social control within families:

Girls may face stricter monitoring of their social activities and appearance
Boys may experience more pressure regarding achievement and "masculine" behaviour
Different household chores may be assigned based on gender
Different emotional expressions may be encouraged (e.g., "boys don't cry")

Feminist sociologists argue that these differences contribute to gender inequality in wider society by teaching children different expectations based on their gender.

Research Spotlight: Ann Oakley

Feminist sociologist Ann Oakley studied how children are socialised differently according to gender. She found that parents often unconsciously treat boys and girls differently from birth - through toys they're given, clothes they wear, behaviours that are encouraged or discouraged and the way adults speak to them. This "gender socialisation" teaches children society's expectations for their gender and shapes their future behaviour and choices.

Critical Perspectives on Family Social Control

Not all sociologists view family social control in the same way:

👍 Functionalist View

Functionalists like Talcott Parsons see family social control as positive and necessary:

It prepares children to be functioning members of society
It creates social stability by passing on shared values
It teaches necessary self-discipline and cooperation

👎 Marxist and Feminist Views

More critical perspectives argue that family social control can:

Reproduce inequality by teaching children to accept their position in society
Enforce gender roles that disadvantage women
Teach obedience to authority that benefits the powerful
Prioritise conformity over creativity and critical thinking

Summary: Why Family Social Control Matters

The family remains the most important agent of social control because:

It has the first and most intense influence on children
Children form strong emotional bonds with family members, making their influence powerful
Family socialisation happens during the most formative years
Family control continues to some degree throughout life
The values and norms learned in the family shape how individuals respond to other forms of social control

Understanding how families control behaviour helps us recognise how society reproduces itself across generations and how social change happens when family patterns shift.

🔒 Test Your Knowledge!