How Does Society Control Us? (Copy)

General Overview of Social Control

• Social Conformity:
  • Most individuals conform to societal norms due to internalized values and socialization processes.
  • Shared societal values, or value consensus, create predictability and cohesion.
  • Even individuals who break societal norms (e.g., criminals) often accept other parts of the societal value system.
• Purpose of Social Control:
  • Ensures conformity and adherence to societal norms and values.
  • Maintains order and prevents chaos.

Types of Social Control

• Informal Social Control:
  • Exercised by individuals or groups without official authority.
  • Examples include disapproving looks, social exclusion, and peer pressure.
  • Agencies:
    • Family: Rewards (e.g., praise) and punishments (e.g., scolding).
    • Peer Groups: Social acceptance or ostracism.
    • Education: Hidden curriculum and informal sanctions like positive reinforcement or disapproval from teachers.
    • Media: Reinforces societal norms through representation and messages.
    • Religion: Encourages conformity through teachings and moral frameworks.
    • Workplace: Social norms embedded in work culture and interactions.
  • Effectiveness:
    • Encourages internal motivation to conform, reducing the need for formal sanctions.
• Formal Social Control:
  • Imposed by individuals or institutions with recognized authority.
  • Agencies include:
    • Police: Enforces laws through arrests and interventions.
    • Courts: Legal adjudication leading to fines, imprisonment, or community service.
    • Penal System: Administers punishments like imprisonment to deter and rehabilitate.
    • Armed Forces: Maintains order and enforces compliance, often during national emergencies or protests.
  • Dual Role of Institutions:
    • Some agencies (e.g., schools, workplaces) employ both formal (e.g., expulsion) and informal methods (e.g., social disapproval).

Positive and Negative Sanctions

• Positive Sanctions:
  • Rewards for acceptable behavior.
  • Examples:
    • Informal: Smiles, compliments, or social media likes.
    • Formal: Medals, promotions, or academic awards.
• Negative Sanctions:
  • Punishments for unacceptable behavior.
  • Examples:
    • Informal: Frowns, exclusion, or disapproving remarks.
    • Formal: Fines, dismissals, or imprisonment.

Methods of Formal Control

• Law-Making:
  • Governments enact laws to regulate behavior and maintain order.
  • Changes in societal norms (e.g., internet usage) often necessitate new laws.
  • Examples:
    • Religious laws influencing societal behavior (e.g., Sharia law).
• Coercion:
  • Use of threats or force to compel compliance.
  • Examples:
    • Police detentions.
    • Armed forces employing tear gas during protests.
• Surveillance:
  • Monitoring individuals to ensure conformity.
  • Modern surveillance involves digital tracking (e.g., online activity).
  • CCTV cameras and internet monitoring have revolutionized crime prevention and enforcement.

Informal Social Control Methods

• Ostracism:
  • Exclusion of individuals from social groups for deviance.
  • Historically common; remains prevalent in specific contexts like peer groups.
• Role of Families:
  • Parents enforce norms through rewards (e.g., treats) and punishments (e.g., grounding).
• Peer Influence:
  • Peer groups shape behavior via acceptance and rejection mechanisms.
• Education:
  • Hidden curriculum promotes conformity through unspoken lessons about behavior and societal roles.
• Media Influence:
  • Shapes societal values and perceptions through representation and narratives.

Perspectives on Social Control

• Consensus View (Functionalism):
  • Emphasizes social control as positive and necessary for societal stability.
  • Key theorist: Emile Durkheim.
    • Anomie: A breakdown of norms leading to societal chaos.
    • Advocated for a collective conscience to maintain harmony and prevent deviance.
• Conflict Views:
  • Marxism:
    • Views social control as a tool for the ruling class (bourgeoisie) to dominate the working class (proletariat).
    • Louis Althusser:
      • Ideological State Apparatus (e.g., media, religion) shapes beliefs to maintain power structures.
      • Repressive State Apparatus (e.g., police) enforces control through force if ideology fails.
    • Socialization perpetuates class structures and acceptance of inequality.
  • Feminism:
    • Focuses on patriarchal control and its impact on gender roles.
    • Examples:
      • Family expectations reinforce traditional gender roles.
      • Education systems guide women toward limited career choices.

Resistance to Social Control

• Protest Groups:
  • Collective action challenging dominant norms or policies.
• Youth and Online Subcultures:
  • Form alternative value systems and resist mainstream ideologies.
• Religious Movements:
  • Advocate for moral frameworks differing from secular societal norms.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Social Control

• Formal Agencies:
  • Effective as deterrents due to authority and legal backing.
  • Limitations:
    • Costly (e.g., imprisonment systems).
    • High recidivism rates indicate limited success in rehabilitation.
• Informal Agencies:
  • Encourage voluntary compliance.
  • Seen as more cost-effective and less confrontational.