Social Control

• Social Control is the way people in society are controlled (through disciplinary action) in order for them to conform to the norms & values in society, by creating an expectation on how they should act
• There are two types of Social Control:

  • Formal mechanisms of Social Control
  • Informal mechanisms of Social Control
• Formal Mechanisms are the police, courts, the criminal justice system & even the government & the military
• Informal Mechanisms are usually through the agents of socialisation such as Peer Groups, Education, Religion & Media
• Examples of Formal Mechanisms of Social Control:

  • Create Laws
  • Enforce Laws
  • Control the population
  • Kettling, Plastic Bullets & Water Canons
  • Discipline in the workplace/school
  • Sanction
• Examples of Informal Mechanisms of Social Control:

  • Socially excluding someone from a peer group
  • Disappointed reaction from parents "I'm not angry, just disappointed"
  • Criticisms of celebs in the Media (cancel culture)
  • Criticisms of any social group in the Media (e.g. Feminists & BLM)