Social Control (Saif Assigment)
Social Control (Saif Assigment)
Social Control (Saif Assigment)
FACULTY OF LAW
SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY
COURSE: BALLB
Formal control.
The state use of law, legislations, military force, police ford, 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 the
behavior of the members. Formal control is deliberately created. Various rules are laid
down 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
punishment 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 it in the case of state which has established the police military
force, etc. In brief, an association, whether it is the state or a bank, or an army, or a
factory or anything has its own norms through which it controls the behavior of the
members. All these come under formal control. Formal control has become a necessity
in the modern complex societies in which interaction is mostly impersonal in nature.5
4
www.sociologyguide.com
5
S.R. Myneni, principles of sociology, Allahabad law agency, Allahabad, 5th edn, 2017
Informal control.
Informal control includes gossip, resentment, public opinion, sympathy, sense of
justice, folkways, mores, customs, religion, morality and such other agents. These are
not purposefully created. Nothing could be said with certainty regarding their origin.
They arise on their own way and in course of time grain currency and popularity. They
become deep-rooted with people in their practices. No specific punishment would be
given to the violators of informal control. Still they are more effective than the formal
control. They do not require any extra staff to enforce them as it is so 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, mora convictions, public opinion, artistic
standard, and the general state of enlightenment are found to more important in formal
control.
Informal control is more effective in primary social group such as family,
neighborhood, tribe, rural community where interaction takes place in the personal
basic. Whenever the group or the society becomes larger (in terms of population) and
more complex, the informal devices of control becomes less effective. Simple gossip
and slander and censure can correct an erring ruralite but not an urban citizen. The
anonymity of city life which has added to the confidence of the individual that he could
commit an offence 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 pace to the formal once such as law, educations, coercion
and codes, through less effective informal control also functions along with formal
control in urban areas in regulating people’s activities.6
6
www.sociologydiscussion.com
a proper law making authority. It is a product of conscious thought, deliberate attempts
are careful planning. (3) Law is definite, clear and precis. (4) Law applies equally to all
without exceptions in identical circumstances. (5) Violations of law followed by
penalties and punishment determined by the authorities of the state. (6) Laws are
always written down and recorded in some fashion. Hence they cannot appear in non-
literate society. (7) Laws are not the result of voluntary consent of persons against
whom they are directed.
Law as an instrument of social control performs two functions; (a) it eliminates and
suppresses the homicidal activities of individuals. (b)law persuades individuals to pay
attention to the rights of others as well as to act I co-operation with others. Law has a
great influence over the society, it plays an important role in maintaining the society.7
2. Control by religion.
Religions established and maintains social control in a number of ways. From the
earliest civilization, man has used religion to aid in ruling his subjects, either in the
form as a spokesman or as god. In later years’ religions is more greatly used as political
tool wielded by the church or the reformers. In each of these ways religion is used as a
tool sway, covert and control the people who are subject to it. It regulates human
conduct. The conception of sprits, ghosts, taboo, etc., Control human actions and
enforce discipline. Ideals of the hell and heaven too have greats effect on the behavior
of people. It has great disciplinary value.
Religions conserves the norms and the value of the life. Religions defines and redefines
values. Mortal, spiritual and social values are strongly supported by religions. It
“maintain the dominance of group goals over individual impulse.”8
There are many types of agencies which helps to control social activities of individuals
such as, control by education, by public opinion, by customs, by sanctions, by rituals,
and control by coercion.it is necessary for every society to maintain its social order and
this is possible only when its members behave in accordance with that social order. An
important objective of social control is to maintain the old order. Family helps in the
realization of this objective.
7
C.N. Shankar rao, sociology, s chand and company ltd, new delhi, 7 edn 2016
8
www.arcjohn.wordpress.com