We explain what social control is, in what ways it is exercised and the mechanisms it encompasses. Also, various examples.
What is social control?
When we talk about social control we refer to a series of mechanisms, practices and values that society promotes, formally or informally, to preserve order established of it. In other words, these are the different methods through which a society seeks to preserve social order and keep the system running.
The concept of social control is very broad, and within it there is room for very different mechanisms, ranging from the laws themselves to values and beliefs. They are enforced in ways:
- Coercive that is, by force. For example, police forces are there to forcibly subdue a mob that refuses to respect public order.
- Persuasive. For example, the laws that govern said public order are taught in school, that is, through education, and promoted by the media.
That is why social control often implies cultural and political control as well. In revolutionary times, it is understood as a barrier that makes change impossible and that acts in favor of the dominant classes, given that the latter generally have control of the State.
Under ordinary conditions, however, some degree of social control It is essential to sustain social peace and allow the continuity of the financial year. That is, it is an essential element to keep societies stable, but in itself it can be questioned and/or modified.
Social control mechanisms
There are two types of social control mechanisms: formal ones (officialized by the State and present in the law) and informal ones (inherited from custom and traditions).
- Formal social control backed by law and constitutional order, is made up of the different institutions and instances of the State, such as the three public powers (executive or government, legislative or parliamentary, and judicial or justice), municipal ordinances and others regulatory systems. For example, the creation of new laws that regulate behavior, or the implementation of universal documentation for each citizen, are formal mechanisms of control of society.
- Informal social control However, it does not necessarily have the explicit support of a law, but rather comes from tradition, customs and the social and cultural life of the people. Its mechanisms are therefore more diverse and changing, and can vary significantly from one society to another or from one era to another. For example, religions and their moral codes, in which certain acts are permitted and others are prohibited, or traditionally ingrained cultural values, such as language (and therefore the way of expressing oneself, courtesy and names). of things).
On the other hand, both formal and informal social control mechanisms can be classified as coercive or persuasive, depending on the way in which they promote their message. When this has to do with obligation and force, these are coercive mechanisms, which work based on coercing the individual.
On the other hand, when it comes to mechanisms that convince you, seduce you or simply train you since childhood to see things in a certain way, we can say that they are persuasive.
Examples of social control
Some examples of social control mechanisms of different types are the following:
- Citizen registration by the State. Whenever a child is born, he or she must be presented by his or her parents to the appropriate authorities of the State, and a birth certificate will be created to provide him or her with a legal identity, in the same way that he or she will later be assigned an identity document (identity card, passport, etc.). , ID, etc.). In this way, the State has statistical control of its citizens, but it can also provide them with bureaucratic and legal services.
- The prohibition of the sale of alcohol to minors. The State prohibits the sale of alcohol and narcotics to people who are not of the appropriate age (generally 18 years old, in other places 21), as a form of protection of children and youth. This law is controlled by the authorities through fines or imprisonment for sellers who fail to comply.
- The monopoly of violence. To preserve its structure and stability, the State has armed forces and law enforcement: armed groups that have a legitimate monopoly on violence in society, which allows them to actively combat external threats (such as rival countries) or internal ones. (such as insurrections, rebellions or terrorism).
- Religious prohibitions. Monotheistic religions, especially, impose on their followers a more or less strict code of conduct, in which prohibitions usually abound. Thus, for example, Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol and the consumption of pork, while Judaism prohibits the consumption of pork and any other meat that has not been prepared with a specific style of bleeding (kosher). , and also prohibits any type of work on Saturdays.
- gender roles. Traditional society is structured based on very specific work, social and public roles depending on the gender of each individual. Thus, men have been identified with active roles (working, inventing, building, leading) while women have been identified with passive roles (cleaning, caring, decorating, accompanying), establishing an order that younger generations It has been difficult for them to contradict and remodel.
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References
- “Social control” on Wikipedia.
- “Social control” in the Ministry of the Interior of Colombia.
- “Social control” in Oxford Bibliographies.
- “Social control” in Open Education Sociology Dictionary.
