Social Control UNIT 6 - OCR PDF

SOCIAL CONTROL UNIT 6 MEANING OF SOCIAL CONTROL The survival and smooth functioning of society are possible only when there exist in it social harmony, social solidarity, and social order. Social harmony or solidarity is not an automatic development. Individual members of society must strive an...

SOCIAL CONTROL UNIT 6 MEANING OF SOCIAL CONTROL The survival and smooth functioning of society are possible only when there exist in it social harmony, social solidarity, and social order. Social harmony or solidarity is not an automatic development. Individual members of society must strive and struggle to bring it about. Members of society are able to bring about social harmony only when they conform to certain accepted standards of behavior or norms. Conformity to norms must prevail over the self-seeking impulses of the people. Group welfare or societal welfare must take precedence over individual pleasures. An individual by himself cannot do this. Hence society exercises its force or control over the individual members. Thus, social control refers to the control of society over the individual. Social control implies a system of devices through which society controls the activities of individual members. MEANING OF SOCIAL CONTROL E.A. Ross was the first American sociologist to deal with the concept of social control in his famous book "Social Control" published in 1901. In fact, he was the first to use the concept of 'social control' in sociological discussion. Since then, the concept has become quite popular. According to Ross, the individual has deep-rooted sentiments that help him to cooperate with other fellow members to work for social welfare. These sentiments are sympathy, sociability, and a sense of justice. But these sentiments by themselves are not enough to suppress the self- seeking impulses of the individual. Society has to make use of its mechanisms to accomplish the necessary order and discipline. Ross has stressed the roles of public opinion, law, belief, suggestion, religion, ideals, ceremony, etc., in establishing social control. DEFINATIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROL Fairchild: "Social Control is the sum total of the processes whereby society, or any subgroup within society, secures conformity to expectations on the part of its constituent units, individuals, and groups." E. A. Ross: "Social Control refers to the 'system of devices whereby society brings its members into conformity with the accepted standards of behavior'." Manheim: "Social Control is the sum of those methods by which a society tries to influence human behavior to maintain a given order." DEFINATIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROL Ogburn and Nimkoff: Social control refers to "the patterns of pressure which a society exerts to maintain order and established rules." J.S. Roucek: 'Social Control' is a collective term used to refer to "those processes planned or unplanned, by which individuals are taught, persuaded, or compelled to conform to the usages and life-values of groups." G.A. Lundberg and others: Social control designates "those social behaviors which influence individuals or groups toward conformity to established or desired norms." NATURE OF SOCIAL CONTROL 1. Social Control denotes some kind of influence. The influence may be exercised in various ways by means of public opinion, coercion, religion, morality, ideology, leadership, etc. 2. The influence is essentially exerted by society or community. The influence is exerted at various levels. It may indicate the entire society's influence over all the innumerable smaller groups, sub-groups, and individuals. It may denote the influence of a dominant group over several smaller groups. It may signify the group's dominance over the individual members. It may reflect, in some cases, the influence of a few extraordinary individuals over other ordinary individuals. NATURE OF SOCIAL CONTROL 3. The influence is exercised for promoting the welfare of all individuals or of the group as a whole. Social Control is not aimless. It is there to serve the general interests of all and to curb the dangerous selfish interests of those who try to satisfy them. 4. The influence of society has been there since times immemorial. Social Control is as old as human society. It is an essential condition of human society. In the absence of social control, no society can ever hold together its members for any length of time. 5. The influence is universal. Where there is society, there is social control. It is there even in the so-called uncivilized, barbaric, and cannibalistic societies. PURPOSE OF SOCIALCONTROL Social Control brings about social conformity. This is the main purpose of social control. Since the modern complex society is a multi-group society, differential norms will have to co-exist. As a result, behavioral patterns of different groups differ significantly. But these differences should not be allowed to exceed the limits of tolerance. People must be made to feel the need for security. For the sake of security, they are obliged to accept conformity. Social Control thus provides for conformity. PURPOSE OF SOCIALCONTROL Social Control brings about solidarity. The second main purpose of social control is to create in the minds of people the feeling of identity and of solidarity. For the proper and smooth functioning of society, the different organizations and institutions of the social system must be properly integrated. Otherwise, in this competitive world, the weaker group may be completely exploited by the stronger one, or equally powerful groups may clash among themselves and spoil peace and order.  Some groups may even develop anti-societal attitudes and pose a permanent danger to the organization of society. It becomes necessary for society to establish a reasonable balance or equilibrium between different groups and institutions.  This would repose confidence among people. Society does this through various means of social control. PURPOSE OF SOCIAL CONTROL Social Control assures the continuity of social group or society. Societies not only struggle for stability and solidarity but also for their own survival or continuity. Continuity is the bedrock on which the future of society depends. Society maintains its continuity by controlling effectively its people and their groups. Due to this continuity, the means of social control become, in the course of time, a part of culture. As a part of culture, they are transmitted from one generation to another.  Thus, various means of social control function endlessly to maintain the continuity of society TYPES OF SOCIAL CONTROL Society makes use of various means of social control depending upon the time and social situation for the realization of its purposes. It is left to the discretion of the group to decide what means must be used at what time and in what social situation. In some primitive communities, magic and superstitious beliefs are enough to exercise control. In a rural society, means such as folkways, mores, customs, traditions, beliefs are enough to act as social pressures on individual behavior. But in modern urban society, radio, television, newspapers, schools and colleges, police force, etc., may be used for enforcing conformity. In fact, societies have developed consciously or unconsciously various devices for the purpose of controlling the behavior of their members. Formal and informal control represent two kinds of devices: Formal and Informal Control. Social Control can thus be classified into two major types on the basis of the means of social control that are employed. They are: (i) Formal control, and (ii) Informal control. FORMAL CONTROL The state makes use of law, legislation, military force, police force, administrative devices, etc., for the purpose of social control. Similarly, different political, religious, economic, cultural, and other associations and institutions also institute formal control over their members.  Formal control is deliberately created. Various rules are established to make it specific: The necessity of following formal control or rules is clearly stated by associations and institutions. Violators of formal control are given punishments depending upon the nature and type of violation. The organization that makes use of formal control may even create a body of officials vested with power to enforce control, as we find in the case of the state which has established the police, military force, etc. In brief, an association, whether it is a state, a bank, an army, a factory, or anything else, has its own norms through which it controls the behavior of its members. All these come under formal control. Formal control has become a necessity in modern complex societies in which interaction is mostly impersonal in nature  INFORMAL CONTROL  Informal Control includes gossip, slander, resentment, public opinion, sympathy, sense of justice, folkways, mores, customs, religion, morality, and other such agents. These are not purposefully created. Nothing could be said with certainty regarding their origin.  They arise in their own way and in the course of time gain currency and popularity. They become deep-rooted within people in their practices. No specific punishment would be given to the violators of informal control. Still, they are more effective than formal control.  They do not require any extra staff to enforce them as it is in the case of formal control. They do not have the physical force to enforce conformity to them. Hence, people may not observe them or go against them without being physically punished for the same.  Faith in religion, moral convictions, public opinion, artistic standards, and the general state of enlightenment are found to be more important in informal control.  Informal control is more effective in primary social groups such as family, neighborhood, tribe, rural community where interaction takes place on a personal basis. Whenever the group or the society becomes larger (in terms of population) and more complex, the informal devices of control become less effective.  The anonymity of city life, which has added to the confidence of the individual that he could commit an offense without being noticed or caught by others who are mostly engaged in their own business, contributes to the non-effectiveness of informal control.  Hence informal methods have given place to the formal ones such as law, education, coercion, and codes, though less effective informal control still plays a significant role AGENCIES FOR SOCIAL CONTROL FORMAL INFORMAL SCHOOL FAMILY WORKPLACE PEER RELIGION MASS MEDIA LAW NEIGHBORHOOD STATE FOLKWAYS EDUCATION MORES PUBLIC OPINION FASHION LAW 1. Law is indeed a crucial formal mechanism for regulating individual behavior within society. It establishes clear rules and guidelines for what is considered acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Laws help maintain order, protect rights, ensure justice, and promote social harmony. 2. Laws deter individuals from engaging in harmful or undesirable behaviors by imposing penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment. 3. Laws provide a framework for individuals to understand their rights and responsibilities, guiding behavior in various aspects of life, from personal relationships to business transactions. 4. Through courts and legal procedures, the law provides a structured way to resolve conflicts and disputes, ensuring fairness and justice. 5. Laws protect individuals' rights and freedoms by setting boundaries for acceptable conduct and providing recourse in cases of violation. 6. Laws can be a tool for promoting social change by formalizing new norms STATE 1. The state plays a vital role in administering social control to ensure the stability, security, and well-being of society. The state, as a governing authority, uses various mechanisms to regulate individual and group behavior, thereby maintaining order and preventing chaos. 2. Through legislation, the state can address emerging social issues, such as cybercrime or public health concerns, and adapt to societal changes. 3. The state formulates public policies that guide social and economic behavior, such as regulations on education, health, employment, and the environment. 4. By implementing these policies, the state can influence social practices, encourage desirable behaviors, and discourage harmful ones. 5. The state often plays a role in education and socialization, promoting values, norms, and ethics that align with societal goals. Educational curricula can instill civic responsibilities and awareness of laws and regulations. 6. By addressing social issues like poverty, unemployment, and healthcare, the state can mitigate factors that lead to deviant behavior. EDUCATION 1. Education in modern times serves as a powerful means of social control by shaping individuals' beliefs, values, and behaviors. 2. It instills societal norms and expectations, promoting conformity and social cohesion. Education provides knowledge and skills that align with societal needs, preparing individuals for productive roles in the economy. 3. It encourages critical thinking and civic engagement, fostering a sense of responsibility and citizenship. 4. Schools serve as agents of socialization, where individuals learn to interact, cooperate, and function within a diverse society. 5. Education reduces social inequalities by offering opportunities for social mobility, integrating marginalized groups into mainstream society. 6. It also addresses social issues by raising awareness on topics such as health, environment, and human rights, promoting informed and responsible behavior. 7. Through a standardized curriculum, education ensures a common cultural and ideological foundation, contributing to national identity and unity. FOLKWAYS 1. 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. 2. It is the informal acceptance of established practices or customs in each group or society. 3. Folkways are manifested in matters of dress, food habits, observance of rituals, forms of worship and methods of greeting etc. 4. Folkways create expectations about how individuals should behave in various situations. For example, shaking hands when greeting someone is a common folkway in many cultures. 5. When people follow folkways, they often receive positive reinforcement such as approval or acceptance from others, which encourages continued adherence 6. Folkways contribute to social cohesion by fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity among members of a community. By adhering to common practices, individuals strengthen their ties to the group. 7. Deviating from folkways can lead to informal social sanctions, such as disapproval or mild criticism. This social pressure helps maintain conformity and reinforces the norm MORES 1. Mores are norms that are deeply ingrained in a society's moral framework and serve as important agencies of social control. They differ from folkways in their significance and the severity of consequences for non-compliance. 2. Mores are based on a society's core moral values and beliefs. They address issues related to right and wrong and are often linked to fundamental ethical principles. For instance, prohibitions against theft or murder are examples of mores. 3. Violations of mores usually result in stronger social sanctions compared to folkways. These sanctions can include severe social disapproval, ostracism, or legal penalties. For example, criminal behaviors like fraud or assault are violations of mores that can lead to legal consequences and significant social stigma. MORES 4. Mores are deeply internalized by individuals as part of their moral consciousness. People conform to mores not only out of fear of punishment but because they genuinely believe in the underlying moral values. 5. Through socialization processes, individuals learn and internalize mores from family, religious institutions, educational systems, and other socializing agents. This learning process helps maintain moral standards within society. 6. Often, mores influence formal laws and regulations. For example, societal disapproval of drug abuse is reflected in legal prohibitions and enforcement mechanisms. The alignment of formal laws with societal mores reinforces their role as a control mechanism. RELIGION 1. Religion serves as a potent agent of social control in many societies around the world. It influences behavior, shapes morals, and regulates social interactions through its teachings, values, and rituals. 2. Moral Guidance: Religious teachings often provide a moral framework that governs individual behavior and societal norms. For instance, in Judaism, the Ten Commandments outline moral principles such as not stealing, not killing, and honoring one's parents. These commandments serve as guidelines for adherents, shaping their conduct and interactions within society. 3. Community Cohesion: Religious communities foster a sense of belonging and unity among their members. Through shared rituals, prayers, and gatherings, religion strengthens social bonds and encourages cooperation. For example, in Islam, the practice of congregational prayers (Salat) brings Muslims together multiple times a day, reinforcing their sense of community and collective identity. RELIGION 4. Social Norms and Expectations: Religious doctrines often dictate specific behaviors and roles within society. These norms guide individuals in their interactions with others and help maintain social order. For instance, Hinduism prescribes the concept of dharma, which encompasses one's duties and responsibilities based on their social status and stage of life. Adhering to these duties contributes to social harmony and stability. 5. Fear of Divine Punishment: Many religions emphasize the consequences of disobedience or sin, both in this life and the afterlife. The fear of divine punishment serves as a deterrent against deviant behavior and encourages adherence to religious laws and societal norms. For example, in Buddhism, the belief in karma, the law of cause and effect, motivates individuals to act morally and ethically to avoid negative consequences in future lives. 6. Social Control Mechanisms: Religious institutions often have established mechanisms for enforcing conformity and disciplining deviant behavior within their communities. These may include religious leaders, councils, or judicial systems tasked with interpreting religious laws and resolving disputes. For instance, within Judaism, the religious court system (Beit Din) adjudicates matters of religious law and communal disputes, ensuring compliance with religious norms. ADMINISTRATION 1. Administration is very powerful and the most effective instrument of social control. It forces the individual to obey social control. The administrations punish the violators with the help of the police, the army etc 2. Administration is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws passed by legislative bodies. This involves interpreting legal provisions, issuing necessary permits or licenses, and taking action against violations. For example, regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforce environmental laws. 3. By providing essential services such as healthcare, education, and transportation, administrative agencies help meet the needs of the public and contribute to social stability. Access to these services can influence social behavior and compliance with societal expectations. 4. Administration involves monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of policies and programs. This helps ensure that objectives are being met and allows for adjustments to be made in response to emerging issues or changing conditions. FAMILY 1. Family is a very important instrument agency of social control. Family prescribes rules and regulations that the members have to follow. These rules and regulations form a part of social control. 2. The family socializes the child into the norms, values, traditions and customs of the group. Thus, family has predominant role in the shaping of the personality of the child. Family teaches the child to conform to the norms of the society. It exercises control over its members to bring about the desired action. 3. Family is one of the most important agencies of social control. Every child learns from her / his immediate environment, which is first provided by the family. Etiquettes, habits and attitudes are first learnt from the immediate role models (e.g. parents, siblings, kin groups, etc.). 4. In villages, an individual gets her / his status from her / his family. The elders have a dominant role in the shaping of the personality of the child. This is manifested in the individual‟s attitudes, interests, lifestyles, etc.  FAMILY 5. Marriages are mostly arranged by the elders and seen as an alliance between families rather than two individuals. In cities, the family continues to play a predominant role in the shaping of an individual’s personality. However, industrialization, paucity of income and space have contributed to the prevalence of nuclear family. This is very different from what is encountered in villages. 6. Hence, families tend to focus upon themselves. This results in an increased accent on individualism as opposed to collectivism common in villages. The function of socialization that a family carries out is complemented by other secondary institutions such as the classroom, playground, peer group and the media. 7. Unlike in rural surrounding, the individual derives her / his social status partly from her / his family but more importantly from her / his personal achievements. Parents and elders still largely arrange marriages in cities. However, the consent of the girl and the boy is sought. Marriages outside caste and religion are also on rise. 8. Thus, we see that individual choice is becoming increasingly important. However, owing to the absence of the strong family support on both sides, individual disagreements are more likely to lead to separation and divorce as opposed to the rural setting where the family network provides a readily available conflict resolution mechanism.  NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Neighborhoods have their own set of social norms and expectations that guide behavior. These unwritten rules often emerge from shared values and customs within the community. For example, norms around maintaining property cleanliness or quiet hours help regulate individual behavior. 2. Neighbors often play a role in socializing individuals, especially children and young adults. Through interactions and communal activities, residents reinforce societal values and expectations, helping to integrate individuals into the community's social fabric. 3. In smaller or more closely-knit neighborhoods, residents often keep an eye on each other’s behavior. This mutual monitoring can lead to self-regulation, as individuals are aware that their actions are visible to others and may impact their reputation within the community. 4. Neighbors often mediate conflicts and disputes among themselves before involving formal authorities. This informal conflict resolution helps maintain harmony and address issues in a way that is acceptable to the community. PUBLIC OPINION 1. Public Opinion of the people is the most important method of social control in a democratic set up. Every man tries to escape from the criticism and condemnation by the society. He therefore, tries to act according to public opinion and public sentiments. 2. In a democratic set up, public opinion is more effective and important than any other agency. Newspapers, radio, television, motion pictures, legislations, pamphlets, etc. mould public opinion. 3. Public opinion helps establish and reinforce societal norms and values. When the majority of people hold certain beliefs or attitudes, these become accepted standards of behavior. For example, widespread public support for environmental protection can lead to norms around recycling and conservation. 4. Public opinion exerts social pressure on individuals to conform to prevailing attitudes and behaviors. Individuals often adjust their actions to align with the views of their peers or the general public to gain social approval and avoid criticism. 5. Public opinion can influence policymakers and legislators. When there is strong public support or opposition on an issue, it can lead to changes in laws and regulations that reflect the collective will of the people. FASHION 1. Fashion may be defined as ‘permitted range of variation around a norm’.People want to be liked by their associates and friends and also want to be different from them. They help us to express our individuality without going against norms. Thus no woman want to attend a dinner party in a night dress. People want to eat fashionable foods, wear fashionable dresses, read fashionable books, enjoy fashionable amusements, etc. 2. Fashion helps reinforce societal norms and expectations regarding appearance and behavior. By establishing trends and standards, fashion dictates what is considered acceptable or fashionable, guiding individuals' choices in clothing and accessories. 3. Fashion is closely tied to social identity and status. Clothing choices can signal social class, group affiliation, or personal identity. This can influence how individuals are perceived and how they conform to or differentiate themselves from social groups. 4. Fashion can also act as a form of resistance or subversion. Nonconformist or alternative fashion choices can challenge mainstream norms and express dissenting views, thereby influencing social control by highlighting and questioning existing norms. SCHOOL 1. When the child comes to the school, his formal indoctrination into the culture of the society begins. He is exposed to a wider background than hitherto known to him. 2. He is formally introduced to the lore and the learning, the arts and the sciences, the values and the beliefs, the customs and taboos of the society from a wider circle, his teachers play a very significant role. 3. The child may admire, respect and love some of his teachers. The impression which they make during this impressionable age lasts almost throughout his life. 4. In literate societies another important agency of socialisation is the printed word in books and magazines. Our cultural world—experiences and knowledge, values and beliefs, superstitions and prejudices—is expressed in words. PEER 1. As the child grows older, his contemporaries begin to influence him. He spends most of his spare hours outside his work and study schedule with his peers in the playground and places outside his home. The attraction of peers is virtually irresistible to him. 2. He learns from them and they also learn from him. With the passage of time, the peer group influence surpasses at of parents significantly. It is not surprising that teen age is the age of parent-child misunderstanding. 3. In the socialisation of the child, the members of the family, particularly those who exercise authority over him, and the members of his peer group exercise two different kinds of influence upon him. Both authoritarian relationships (typified by the former) and equalitarian relationships (typified by the latter) are equally significant to him. 4. He acquires the virtues of respect, constraint and obedience from the first type of relationships, and the virtues of co-operation based on trust and mutual understanding from the second. PEER The importance of authoritarian element in the socialization process may be explained thus. First, the pattern of behaviour expected of a child in a society does not usually or in all cases correspond to the innate inclinations of the child. On the contrary, on many occasions he is taught to act contrary to biological inclinations and follow the prescriptions as well as the proscriptions of society. Those who are mature and can command his respect and attention are obviously the proper persons to initiate the process of socialisation. The child will naturally resent being asked to behave in a manner contrary to what his natural inclinations prompt him to do. In cases like this, the authority of those who are responsible for reproducing and maintaining a child are in a unique position to make him accept their instructions without questioning the logic and the necessity of the contents of those instructions. He has to accept these simply because his superiors lay them down for him. The importance of equalitarian element in socialisation process rests on altogether different grounds. There is free and spontaneous interaction, instead of coercion, among those who have equalitarian relationships. They view “the world through the same eyes,” share the same subjective attitudes and, consequently, have perfect “understanding” of one mother. This applies to age mates, sex mates and class mates. They learn from one mother “small folkways, shades of meaning, fads and crazes, secret modes of gratification, and forbidden knowledge.” Some such knowledge is “often socially useful and yet socially abooed”. MASS MEDIA 1. Apart from newspapers which carry printed words, the two other mass media, viz., the radio and television, exercise tremendous influence in the socialisation process. They “assault our ears” and communicate directly their messages and these messages also “contain in capsule form the premises of our culture, its attitudes and ideologies”. 2. The role of television, in particular, is very significant. It communicates directly to both our ears and eyes and thus leaves a strong impression. 3. In individual cases, of course, the importance of these influences varies. Different people react to the same suggestion differently. Responses vary in terms of their natural predilections. “Some of us respect tradition; others fear the opinion of their peers; and still others prefer to listen to the ‘thousand tongues’ of conscience”. 4. David Riesman has characterised the first group as ‘tradition-directed’, the second as ‘other directed’ and the third as ‘inner-directed’. While discussing the nature and impact of socialisation process, one cannot afford to ignore these innate characteristics of human nature.