How does society control us? » Agencies of informal social control - family and education

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The concept of social control and its importance in society
How the family functions as an agency of informal social control
How education systems reinforce social norms and values
The difference between formal and informal social control
Real-world examples of how family and education shape our behaviour

Introduction to Social Control

Have you ever wondered why most people follow rules without being forced to? Or why you automatically say "please" and "thank you" without thinking about it? This is social control in action! Social control refers to the ways society encourages people to behave according to social norms and expectations.

Key Definitions:

Social Control: The methods used by society to encourage conformity to norms, rules and laws.
Formal Social Control: Official regulations enforced by institutions like the police or courts.
Informal Social Control: Unofficial pressures from family, friends and other social groups that shape our behaviour.
Socialisation: The process of learning the norms and values of society.

📖 Formal vs Informal Control

Formal control involves written rules, laws and official punishments. Think of police officers, judges and prison sentences.

👍 Informal Control

Informal control works through social pressure, disapproval and praise. Examples include family expectations, peer pressure and social media influence.

The Family as an Agency of Social Control

The family is often called the primary agent of socialisation because it's where we first learn about rules, values and acceptable behaviour. From our earliest years, family shapes how we understand the world and our place in it.

How Families Control Our Behaviour

Families use various methods to encourage children to follow social norms:

💬 Positive Reinforcement

Praise, rewards and encouragement when children follow rules or display "good" behaviour.

🚫 Negative Sanctions

Telling off, disapproval, or punishment when children break family or social rules.

🕵 Role Modelling

Children learn by watching and copying their parents' and siblings' behaviour.

Case Study Focus: Gender Socialisation in Families

Research shows that families often treat boys and girls differently from birth. Studies have found that parents tend to give gender-specific toys (dolls for girls, cars for boys), use different language and have different expectations. This shapes children's understanding of gender roles and appropriate behaviour for their gender. For example, in many UK families, girls are still more likely to be asked to help with housework than boys, subtly teaching them that domestic work is "women's work".

Family Control Across Different Cultures

How families control children's behaviour varies across cultures:

Collectivist cultures (like many Asian societies) often emphasise obedience to parents, respect for elders and family reputation.
Individualist cultures (like the UK) might focus more on developing independence and personal choice, with less strict obedience.
Religious families may use religious teachings as a form of social control, teaching children moral values based on religious texts.

Education as an Agency of Social Control

Schools don't just teach academic subjects – they also teach us how to behave in society. From lining up quietly to wearing uniforms, schools reinforce social norms and prepare young people for adult life.

How Schools Control Students

Schools use various mechanisms to control behaviour and teach social norms:

📓 The Hidden Curriculum

This refers to the unwritten, unofficial lessons that schools teach. These include punctuality (arriving on time), hierarchy (respecting teachers' authority) and competition (working for good grades). The hidden curriculum prepares students for the workplace and wider society.

🎓 School Rules and Sanctions

Schools have formal rules about behaviour, attendance and appearance. Breaking these rules leads to sanctions like detentions or exclusions. This teaches students about following rules in wider society and the consequences of breaking them.

Case Study Focus: School Uniforms

School uniforms are a clear example of social control in education. In the UK, about 90% of secondary schools require uniforms. Sociologists suggest uniforms serve several social control functions:

They reduce visible class differences between students
They create a sense of belonging and community
They prepare students for workplaces with dress codes
They teach conformity and respect for rules

However, critics argue uniforms suppress individuality and self-expression.

Education and Values

Schools actively promote certain values that society considers important:

British Values: UK schools are required to promote "fundamental British values" including democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect.
Achievement: Schools reward academic success, teaching students to value hard work and achievement.
Citizenship: Schools teach students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Comparing Family and Education as Agents of Social Control

👪 Family Control

Strengths: More personal and emotionally connected; begins from birth; can be tailored to individual children.

Limitations: Varies greatly between families; may reinforce outdated values; limited to family context.

🏫 Education Control

Strengths: More consistent across society; exposes children to diverse perspectives; prepares specifically for workplace behaviour.

Limitations: Less personalised; may not account for cultural differences; can create resistance in some students.

Changes in Social Control

Both family and education as agents of social control have changed over time:

Families have become more democratic, with less emphasis on strict obedience
Schools have moved away from physical punishment towards behaviour management techniques
Digital technology has created new forms of social control through social media pressure and online reputation
Cultural diversity has challenged the idea of a single set of norms that everyone should follow

Critical Thinking: Is Social Control Good or Bad?

Social control has both positive and negative aspects:

Positive: Creates social order, reduces conflict, provides security, teaches necessary skills for social living.

Negative: Can limit individuality, may reinforce inequality, can be used to maintain power differences, might suppress positive social change.

What do you think? Is the social control you experience through family and school mostly helpful or mostly restrictive?

Summary: How Family and Education Control Us

Both family and education work as powerful agents of informal social control by:

Teaching us society's expectations through rewards and sanctions
Modelling appropriate behaviour
Creating environments where certain behaviours are encouraged and others discouraged
Preparing us for adult roles in society
Shaping our values and beliefs about what is right and wrong

Understanding these mechanisms helps us recognise how our own behaviour is shaped by social forces and how society maintains order without always needing formal rules and laws.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!