Social Control

The term, ‘social control’, is widely term refer to the social processes by which the
behaviour of individuals or groups is regulated. Since all societies have norms and values
governing conduct equally have some mechanisms for ensuring conformity to those norms
and for dealing with deviance. Social control is consequently a pervasive feature of society,
of interest to a broad range of sociologists having differing theoretical persuasions and
substantive interests, and not just to sociologists of deviance.

Means of Social Control

Sociologists usually classify the mechanisms of social control into two types:

1. Informal means of social control

2. Formal means of social control

Informal Means of Social Control

In primary groups, the relationships are close, direct and intimate. Social control is often
maintained by informal mechanisms such as customs, traditions, folkways, mores and
religion. Informal means of social control include established and accepted institutions
relating to socialization, education, family, marriage, religion, etc.

Folkways

Folkways are norms to which individuals conform. It is customary to do so. Conformity to

folkways is not enforced by law or any other agency of the society. It is the informal
acceptance of established practices in each group or society. Folkways are manifested in
matters of dress, food habits, observance of rituals, forms of worship and methods of
greeting, etc. For instance, food habits in north and south India are different and these habits
often persist even when the person has moved to a different location away from her / his
earlier surroundings.
Customs

Customs are the long established practices of people, which occur spontaneously but
gradually. Along with regulating social life, they also bind them together. In primitive
societies, customs were powerful means of social control, but in modern times, they have
weakened due to a rise in the forces of rationality and diversity.

Mores

Mores refer to moral conduct as distinct from the customary practice of folkways. They
influence the value system of a society and are in the form of social regulations which aim to
maintain social order. Mores seek to regulate the relationship between individuals in defined
situations, viz. between wife and husband, parents and children, student and teacher, etc.
They may also refer to general social relationships in terms of honesty, truthfulness, hard
work, discipline, etc. Since mores are consciously designed and created with a view to
preserve them, violations of these often entail penalties. They are perhaps the strongest
mechanisms of informal social control.

Religion

Religion exercises a powerful, albeit unscientific, influence on its adherents. Emile Durkheim
defines religion as the unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things. Those
who have common beliefs and practices are united into one single moral community through
religion.

Formal Means of Social Control

The formal means of social control come from institutions such as the state, law, education
and those which have legitimate power. They apply coercive measures in the case of
deviance.

Law

In primitive societies, the groups followed similar occupations and individuals shared a
direct, personal and intimate relation among themselves. These folkways, mores and customs
sufficed in controlling the individual behaviour. There was almost unquestioned compliance
with the informal mechanism of social control. In contrast, modern societies are characterized
by immense diversity, individualism, division of labour and differentiation in terms of work,
ethics and lifestyle. Urbanization and accelerated movement of people striving for a better
and dignified life has changed the worldview of social groups. Relationships have become
formal. Customs and folkways seem inadequate to control diverse population groups.
Simultaneously, the State has grown stronger and more specialized in nature. It is now
necessary and possible to regulate individual behaviour by a formulating a set of common
laws which are backed by the legal, administrative and political machinery of the State. Laws
and enforcement agencies are replaced by customs and mores as the regulators of behaviour
and ensure social order and control.

Education

Along with laws, education has been an important agency of social control. It prepares the
child for social living and teaches her / him the values of discipline, cooperation, tolerance
and integration. Educational institutions at all levels (i.e. school, college, university, etc.)
impart knowledge as well as ethics through formal structured courses and behavioural inputs.

The different pace of the educational system in different societies depends on changing social
mores, level of development and social needs. Thus, in ancient Indian society, the emphasis
was on religious scriptures, philosophy and metaphysics. However, with the ushering in of
the Industrial Revolution, the focus shifted as social development has resulted in an increased
demand for knowledge in other creative areas and managerial skills. At schools, the ideas of
democracy, secularism, equality and national goals are communicated to students in addition
to the emphasis on our shared history, culture, heritage, norms and values.

State

State has a vital role in administering social control. Sociologists have defined the State as
“an association designed primarily to maintain order and security, exercising universal
jurisdiction within territorial boundaries, by means of law backed by force and
recognized as having sovereign authority”.

State functions through the government. Modern nation-states strive to be welfare states, i.e.
they seek to provide to the citizens a wide range of social services like education, medical
care, old age pension and unemployment allowance. These are achieved by means of the
cooperation of individuals and through collective efforts of the media, civil society and other
social institutions. For example, the pulse polio programmes of the government are
extensively supported by the use of television, posters, civil society organizations,
educational institutions, and so on, all of which try to educate the public on the advantages of
the government measures. In a context such as this, the State acts as an informal agency of
social control.

Methods of Social Control

Formal Social Control

Formal social control is implemented by authorized agents including police officers,

employers, military officers, and others. It is carried out as a last option at some places when
the desired behavior is not possible through informal social control. The situations and
severity where formal control is practiced varies with countries.

This is practiced through law as statutes, rules, and regulations against deviant social
behavior. For example, certain laws like prohibition of murder can be directed at all members
of a society. Fishing and hunting regulations are made for certain groups. Corporate laws are
laid for governing the behavior of social institutions. Formal control is conducted by
government and organizations through law enforcement mechanisms. It can also be
conducted through some formal sanctions including fines and imprisonment. Processes of
formal control in democratic societies are determined and designed through legislation by
elected representatives.

Courts or judges, military officers, police officers, school systems or teachers, and
government agencies or bureaucrats, enforce formal control.

Informal Social Control

It is exercised by a society without stating any rules or laws. It is expressed through norms
and customs. Social control is performed by informal agents on their own in an unofficial
capacity. Traditional societies mostly embed informal social control culture to establish social
order. Shame, sarcasm, criticism, ridicule and disapproval are some of the informal sanctions.
Social discrimination and exclusion are included in informal control at extreme deviant cases.
Self-identity, self-worth and self-esteem are affected in informal control through loss of
group approval or membership. The severity and nature of informal control mechanisms
differ from varied individuals, groups, and societies.

Informal is effective in small group settings including friends, family, neighborhood, work
group and others. However, in some large and complex societies, informal social control and
disapproval is ignored easily. At such situations, it is necessary to follow the formal one.

Some of the differences of formal and informal social control are:

 Formal social control includes written, formalized and codified statements in laws, rules,
and regulations. Whereas informal control does not contain any written rules.
 Formal control agencies are authorized ones created by government and informal control
agencies are created by social networks and organizations but not by government.
 Formal control is much effective and stronger than informal social control. Any situations
which cannot be handled by informal control are subjected to formal one.
 Formal control is effective for even large groups of population but informal control is
effective only for a small group of people.
 Social control, formal or informal, thus helps in regulation of society. The study of social
control includes disciplines of sociology, anthropology, psychology, law and political
science.

Social Deviation, Peace Harmony and Tolerance

Social Deviation

No society of the world has ever been able to create an environment to help all the
individuals to live their lives according to social norms. Opposition of social norms is
continuous. Every individual may any time deviate from behavior, may be normative
behavior in one society and in another society it may be a deviation. For example, in
Pakistani society, a child is beaten by parents; it is a normative behavior whereas in Britain, it
is a deviation of behavior. So deviation requires the study of culture, time and place.
Definitions of Social Deviation1. According to James H. Henslin:

"All violations of social rules regardless of their seriousness"

2. According to Wickman:

Deviance is behavior that violates the standards conduct or expectations of group of a

society"

In short deviant behavior is outside the bounds of the group or a society. Deviance is
behavior that is likely to get you into the trouble.

Causes of Social Deviation

 Lack in Socialization
 Unpopular social laws
 Extra ordinary exploitation
 Cultural invasion

Apects of deviation

 Deviance - variations from the set of norms or shared social expectations

 Deviants - the people who violate these shared expectations
 Conformity-- when people follow the norms of their social group or society

Effects of Social Deviation on society

Deviance is generally perceived to be disruptive in society. It can weaken established social

norms and create and disorders. But it also has other functions which are not necessarily
harmful and may actually be beneficial to society.

 It is one way that social change occurs. If a deviant act becomes more accepted it soon

may be considered legitimate. For example, many companies used to have dress codes

for their workers. Most fine restaurants have also relaxed dress codes today.

 Deviance helps people adjust to change. It provides examples of alternate's lifestyles

introduce these changes

gradually. Over time individuals get used to seeing different styles of dress, behavior etc.

 Deviance has a way of promoting social solidarity by distinguish "us" from "th em".

In this way it increases social cohesion in the larger society by establishing social

and eases the shock of social change because "deviants"

boundaries defining what acceptable behavior is.

 Deviance provides a way in which some individual and groups can introduce their

agendas to the rest of the society. And evaluate their own personal status while doing it.

Social peace

Social peace is a way sustaining social life distant from internal conflict. It is one of the

objectives of social politics offer peaceful solutions to the disputes and conflicts that may

arise from disagreements and social tensions among national and international various sectors

of society.

Definitions of Peace

According to Mindanao Church Peace Congress 1996:

Peace is not just the absence of war. It is the wholeness of life where every person can

live with dignity.

According to Pope John Paul:

'Pcace is the fruit of solidarity"

Levels of Peace

 Personal Level:

Inner peace is the development of inner harmony or inner integration characterized by

such qualities as self respect, self confidence, ability to cope with negative feelings like

fear, shame, anger etc and developing positive attitudes such as optimism.
  Interpersonal Level:

It is shown by the relationship of an individual with one another such as assertiveness,

respect and concern for others.

 Social/National Level:

It is being concerned with addressing issues that affect the society and it's social, political

and economic components.

Ways to achive peace

 Make a personal commitment to nonviolence.

 Show a child how to achieve calmness through deep breathing
 Speak out against prejudice and discrimination when you see it.
 When you feel angry count to ten before saying anything. Then ask yourself what
response will be best for the greater good,
 When you see someone in trouble, whether he or she is lost confused, upset or has
fallendon't act like you don't see the person-provide some help.
 Show a child to how to be kind with animals,
 Show a child how to be kind with vulnerable people - the homeless, those with
physical or cognitive disabilities, older people.
 Regard people who hurt your feelings as your personal teachers of how to
maintaina peaceful nature.
 If you are a member of religious community, ask how you can get more involved
in promoting peace through its programs and ministries.
 If you are not a member of any religious community find a not-for- profit
community that Work towards peaceful communities and volunteer,
 Become trained in mental health first aid so you can respond to people in mental
distress.
 Serve on committees and task forces that work to make your neighborhood,
school and workplace safer.
 Don't hide from life. Have faith that there is still an abundance of good in this
world.
 Social Harmony

Social harmony is peaceful interaction of human dynamics among members of a social group
or groups. Basic survival and subsistence families or complex societies develop and thrive on
some form of social harmony. Survival is enhanced by productive exchanges of labor and
production with division of lal or increasing the benefits of social harmony.

Meaning of Social Harmony

As an ideal, it means the people who live around and near each other get along and cooperate
to make everything better for everyone. Alas, this concept is just a concept because the one
thing people are really good at is disharmony and not harmony.

Difference Between Peace and Harmony

Peace can neither be created nor obtained. Peace is merely the absence of all that is not peace

while harmony is the ability to be in peace with others.

Peace is the state of mind which signifies that mind is at rest and there are no worries and

tensions. Absence of bitterness between individuals and communities or other segments of

society indicates that there is peace. Harmony is necessary for peace but this is distinct.
Harmony indicates that different elements or segments or components are Working in
cooperation and as a team, Good team work means harmony.

Aims of Social Harmony

 To understand the difference between prejudice and discrimination,

 To understand be able to debate the issues surrounding racism,
 To be able to identify the benefits of a multi-faith societies,
 To complete a case study on one person involved in pronioting social harmony
 To understand and be able to debate the issues surrounding.
 To underst and the issues surrounding the role of women in society
 To understand the issues surrounding religious pluralism and religious freedom,
 Social Tolerance

Take a moment to think about your lifestyle: your behaviors, actions, thoughts and
environment. Now think about someone else's. Chances are there are some aspects of other
people's liveswhich annoy you. Many people are surrounded by others which appear to be
incompetent" and annoying. Understanding tolerance can help shift our attitudes toward
others, leading us to more productive and happy life.

Tolerance can be defined as a fair and objective attitude towards those whose lifestyle
differs from yours.

What is tolerance?

 Tolerance means to accept and embrace other races, religions and ideas without
judgment.
 Respecting others for their differences.

Importance of tolerance in society

The world is much smaller place today. Globalization has blurred borders throughout the
world.

More people with different nations, cultures, religions and lifestyles are working together and
living in the same neighborhoods and than even before. Tolerance of each other's differences
is very important key to keeping peace in society.

The importance of tolerance cannot be emphasized enough in a world where there is one
place or another in a state of war, Tolerance's importance is shown repeatedly in the news
where historically taboo ways of life and belief system are pushing the justice system and
government to recognize their right to exist publicly.

Religious differences are another place where tolerance is very important. How people
worship is a very personal thing and someone bashinga person's religious can start aheated
battle very quickly. Everyone has the right to believe the way they want about religion.

There are very few examples of where tolerance is very important in society because people
are traveling more and working in different countries, there is a strong need for information
about the different cultures that exists. There need to be more schools and workplaces and
governments that insist on and teach tolerance.

Subject
School community and teacher

Topic
Social Control

Submitted to

Sir. Munir Afzal

Submitted by
Muzdalfa Fatima Bsf1603104