Questions and Answers
What is formal social control?
Explicit and direct control of the behaviour of the population.
What is informal social control?
Subtle, less obvious and less direct control of the behaviour of the population.
Name examples of agents of formal social control.
Military, police, courts, government, justice system.
Name examples of agents of informal social control.
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Provide examples of real situations in which formal social control has been used.
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What are sanctions?
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Examples of sanctions used by formal agents of social control include?
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Examples of sanctions used by informal agents of social control include?
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How does the education system overlap between formal and informal social control?
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How does the workplace exhibit overlap between formal and informal social control?
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Describe how religion operates as a form of social control.
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Study Notes
Formal and Informal Social Control
- Formal Social Control: Direct, explicit regulation of societal behavior through established laws and regulations.
- Informal Social Control: Subtle, indirect mechanisms that guide behavior without formal rules or penalties.
Agents of Social Control
- Formal Agents: Include military, police, courts, government, and the justice system, which enforce laws and impose penalties.
- Informal Agents: Comprise family, workplace, media, peer groups, education, and religious institutions that influence behavior through social norms.
Real Situations of Formal Social Control
- Notable instances include the London riots, incidents of football hooliganism, and various terror attacks where formal mechanisms were enacted to maintain order.
Sanctions
- Definition: Penalties applied by either formal or informal agents for non-compliance with laws or social norms.
Sanctions by Formal Agents
- Examples include police warnings, court-imposed sentences, job dismissals, and school exclusions aimed at enforcing compliance.
Sanctions by Informal Agents
- Examples include social ostracism within peer groups, disappointment from parents, missed promotions at work, and negative media coverage of celebrities.
Education as Social Control
- The education system serves both functions: informal sanctions like detentions or report cards, and formal sanctions such as permanent exclusions and fines for non-attendance.
Workplace Dynamics
- In the workplace, informal mechanisms include peer pressure and unwritten warnings, while formal consequences can involve dismissals and documented warnings.
Religious Sanctions
- Religious organizations may impose formal sanctions like expulsion or public condemnation, alongside informal methods that subtly guide behavior.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of formal and informal social control with these informative flashcards. Understand the differences between direct and subtle methods of controlling behavior, along with examples of formal agents such as the police and government. Ideal for sociology students looking to deepen their understanding of social structures.
