MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL FORMAL AND INFORMAL
At all times , all societies have had some means of maintaining order and control in their respective situation .
Individuals and groups comply with social norms through a network of social institutions , like family , kin groups , caste , village , education , state , religion and economic institutions , etc.
Sociologists have classified the mechanisms of social control into :
( a ) the informal means of social control and
( b ) the formal means of social control .
Informal Means of Social Control
In primary groups , the relationships are close , direct and intimate . Social control is often maintained by informal mechanisms , i.e. customs , traditions , folkways , mores and religion . These are adopted means by informal groups .
Informal mechanisms of social control include established and accepted institutions relating to socialization , education , family , marriage and religion etc.
It is executed through informal sanctions , which may be positive or negative . Positive sanctions include smile , a nod of approval , rewards and promotion , etc. For instance , Good performance in an examination may be rewarded with a bicycle or a watch by the parents .
Negative sanctions include a frown , criticism , physical threats and punishments . The unruly behaviour in school may result in detention or severe punishment is an example of negative sanction .
Formal Means of Social Control
The formal means of social control come from institutions like the state , law , education , and those that have legitimate power . The apply coercion in case of deviance . For instance , a person convicted of having stolen someone's property may be sentenced to imprisonment . In other words , these institutions exercise the legal power to control the behaviour of the individual and the group . We shall now deal with the various forms of informal and formal means of social control .
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