Agencies of social control: The different groups and organisations in society that make sure individuals follow the formal and informal rules. (Government laws and social norms)
Formal social control
behaviour is controlled by organisations that enforce order
If we break the law, there are negative sanctions such as fines or prison
criminaljusticesystem
Informal social control
behaviour is controlled in less formal settings by family, friends, religion etc
Sanctions may include disapproval or social rejection
based on unwritten laws
Methods of formal control
Houses of Parliament -the legislature and they legislate; make laws to regulate our behaviour
The police force maintain the order and enforce the laws
Judiciary- convict and sentence guilty people
Magistrates- volunteers who hear cases in the magistrates Court. Deal with minor offences.
Crown Court deals with serious criminal offences. The case is heard in front of a jury and the judge passes a the sentence
The prison service keeps offenders who have received a prison sentence in custody. Deters them from committing crimes
Functionalists argue that modern society is based on value consensus—an agreement on the norms and values of society.
Socialisation teaches us these norms and values and so social order is maintained by people agreeing to follow these rules
Marxists see capitalist society as based on conflicting interests between two classes.
The bourgeoisie (ruling class) own the means of production (businesses and companies) and employ the proletariat (working class).
Social order is maintained over time because the bourgeoisie have the power to enforce order.
They are able, for example, to influence the type of laws that get passed in society.
methods of social control
refers to the processes by which people are encouraged or persuaded to conform to the rules
refers to the ways that social groups or societies deal with behaviour that VIOLATES or breaks these rules
Social control methods may involve sanctions that aim to limit or reduce frequency of deviant acts
For example, a PROMOTION at work is a positive sanction and prison sentence is a negative sanction.
social control
The process by which society is persuaded to conform to the rules
Methods of informal social control
Informal social control is based on unwritten rules.
It works by people approving or disapproving of others’ behaviour.
‘Agencies of informal social control’ such as family, peers, teachers or work colleagues
use positive or negative sanctions to change others’ behaviour.