How does society control us? » Agencies of informal social control - peer group and media

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The concept of informal social control and how it differs from formal control
How peer groups influence our behaviour and identity
The role of media as an agency of social control
Real-world examples of peer and media influence
How to analyse and evaluate these forms of social control

Informal Social Control: How Society Shapes Our Behaviour

Every day, our actions are influenced by unwritten rules and expectations that we may not even notice. This invisible guidance system is called informal social control and it's one of the most powerful ways society keeps us in line without using laws or official punishments.

Key Definitions:

Social Control: The methods used by society to encourage conformity to norms, values and expectations.
Informal Social Control: Control that occurs through social interactions, without official rules or formal punishments.
Agencies of Social Control: Groups or institutions that enforce social norms (family, education, religion, peer groups, media, etc.).

💬 Formal vs Informal Control

Formal control uses official rules, laws and punishments (police, courts, prisons).

Informal control uses social pressure, disapproval and rewards (smiles, frowns, inclusion, exclusion).

💡 Why Study Informal Control?

Most of our daily behaviour is regulated not by laws but by subtle social cues. Understanding these hidden influences helps us recognise how our choices are shaped by others.

Peer Groups: The Power of Friends

Your friends might influence you more than you realise. Peer groups are one of the strongest agencies of informal social control, especially during adolescence when young people are forming their identities.

How Peer Groups Control Us

Peer groups use various mechanisms to encourage conformity:

👍 Approval

Smiles, compliments, inclusion in activities and social media likes all reward conformity.

👎 Disapproval

Mockery, gossip, cold shoulders and exclusion punish those who don't follow group norms.

🛠 Group Identity

Shared styles, language and interests create a sense of belonging that members don't want to lose.

Case Study Focus: The Asch Conformity Experiments

In the 1950s, psychologist Solomon Asch demonstrated how peer pressure can make people deny their own judgement. Participants were shown lines of different lengths and asked which matched a reference line. When confederates (actors posing as participants) deliberately gave wrong answers, about 75% of real participants conformed at least once, giving answers they knew were incorrect. This shows how powerful the desire to fit in with peers can be.

Peer Influence in the Digital Age

Today's peer groups extend beyond physical spaces into social media platforms, creating new forms of social control:

Constant visibility: Social media creates a 24/7 audience for our behaviour
Quantified approval: Likes, shares and follower counts make social approval measurable
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Seeing peers' activities creates pressure to participate
Online shaming: Public criticism can reach unprecedented scales

🔥 Positive Peer Influence

Peer groups can promote positive behaviours like studying, volunteering and healthy habits. They can challenge harmful norms and provide support networks.

⚠ Negative Peer Influence

Peer pressure can lead to risky behaviours like substance use, bullying, or dangerous challenges. It can also discourage academic achievement or individuality.

Media: The Invisible Influencer

From television to TikTok, media shapes our understanding of what's normal, desirable and acceptable. As an agency of informal social control, media works in subtle but powerful ways.

How Media Controls Us

Media influences our behaviour through several mechanisms:

📺 Role Models

Characters and celebrities model behaviours that audiences may imitate, from fashion choices to language and attitudes.

📖 Narratives

Stories show consequences for different behaviours, teaching moral lessons about what's acceptable.

📿 Representation

What media shows (or doesn't show) affects what we consider normal or important in society.

Case Study Focus: Media and Body Image

Research shows that exposure to idealised body images in media is linked to body dissatisfaction. A 2019 UK study found that 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image. Media sets beauty standards that many feel pressured to meet, influencing behaviours from diet and exercise to cosmetic procedures. This demonstrates how media can control behaviour without explicit rules.

Media Literacy: Recognising Control

Being able to critically analyse media messages helps us understand how they might be controlling us:

Who created this message? (Consider their motivations)
What techniques are used to attract attention? (Music, visuals, emotional appeals)
What values or behaviours are being promoted? (Explicitly or implicitly)
How might different people interpret this message? (Consider diverse perspectives)
What is omitted from this message? (What isn't shown matters too)

Comparing Peer Group and Media Influence

👥 Peer Group Control

Strengths: Immediate, personal, powerful during identity formation

Limitations: Limited to specific social circles, can be resisted by changing peer groups

💻 Media Control

Strengths: Wide-reaching, persistent, shapes broader cultural norms

Limitations: Less direct, impact varies by media consumption, can be filtered through critical thinking

Intersections and Amplifications

Peer groups and media don't work in isolation they often reinforce each other:

Peers discuss and share media content, amplifying its messages
Social media blurs the line between peer interaction and media consumption
Media portrays peer relationships, influencing expectations of friendship and belonging
Both respond to and shape wider cultural trends in a feedback loop

Sociological Perspectives

Functionalist view: Informal social control through peers and media helps maintain social order by teaching shared norms without requiring formal intervention.

Marxist view: Media control reflects the interests of powerful groups in society, promoting consumerism and distracting from inequality.

Feminist view: Both peer groups and media often reinforce gender norms, though they can also challenge them.

Interactionist view: Focuses on how individuals interpret and negotiate peer and media influences in their everyday interactions.

Evaluating Informal Social Control

When examining how peer groups and media control our behaviour, consider these questions:

Is the control visible or invisible to those being controlled?
Who benefits from these forms of control?
How do different social groups experience these controls differently?
Are these forms of control becoming stronger or weaker in the digital age?
How can individuals resist harmful aspects of peer and media influence?

Understanding informal social control doesn't mean we're powerless against it. By recognising how peer groups and media shape our choices, we can make more conscious decisions about which influences to accept and which to question.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!