Social control - types and the main functions

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Human life is regulated by numerous norms which define what is good and that is bad. One of mechanisms of creation and maintenance of an order among people is social control which has different types and features.

What is social control?

The mechanism used for maintenance of an order in society is called social control. With its help it is possible to prevent emergence of deviations in behavior of people and receiving punishments for them. For it standard regulation is used. Social control is means which helps the person to acquire the standards of culture which developed in society. This term was introduced in France by the sociologist Gabriel Tardom for the first time.

Social control in sociology

For regulation of human behavior in society different methods which mean submission of the individual to group are used. The concept of social control includes two elements: norms and sanctions. Understand the rules and standards fixed by the legislation or approved by society which regulate behavior of people as the first term. Sanctions are the elements of social control meaning definition of methods for encouragement and punishment which stimulate people to adhere to norms.

Social control in economy

Any organization creates groups of people who are based on a certain form of social control. Researchers in the history of economy allocated four main types of regulation.

For primitive people the essence of social control had moral character.
When the slaveholding system was established, corporal punishments were used.
In the period of feudalism the social control was based on administrative restrictions.
During establishment of capitalism the economic control was used.

Social control in religion

For implementation of communications in the public and as means of social control the religion which unites a huge number of people is applicable. It has own methods and receptions basing on the authority Gospoda. If to glance in the history, then it is possible to find many examples when religious means of social control helped to support public relations when the role of the state weakened. In that case it is possible to carry to the main tools of religion: prophet's cult, sacred books and belief.

Why social control is necessary?

In all types of society there was a social control and initially it were simple customs by means of which understood what is acceptable and that is not present. There is a number of important functions for which social regulation is used:

By means of certain restrictions it is possible to preserve social values (life, honor, freedom, property and so on) and to prevent attempts of infringement of them. By means of guarding function it is possible to pass on social experience from one generation to another.
Functions of social control are shown on the different standards of living, and in this case the set of processes which direct is meant, define and limit a form for the embodiment of own potential and experience of the person or group in certain conditions.
The value of social control for society is shown in an opportunity to foretell behavior of the person in different situations that helps to provide a social order.

Types of social control

There are several classifications which are guided by different criteria. There are forms of social control depending on the subject:

Is implemented by heads at the different levels with a reference point on the existing normative documents. It is possible to carry to minuses that administrative control can not always be operating, objective and comprehensive.
The structure of social control includes a regulation form which is carried out thanks to public organizations. For this purpose use the different charters and provisions connected with their status. Its efficiency is caused by the fact that similar groups are organized and structured.
Here mutual control of certain participants of collective is meant. It can be formal that is when meetings, meetings and conferences, and informal, meaning the general collective opinion and mood are used.

Internal and external social control

If to be guided by the sphere of regulation, then allocate the following classification:

External social control. Means set of the certain mechanisms used for regulation of reality of the person. He can be formal and informal. About this classification it will be told further. In the modern world such control is inefficient as it is necessary to monitor actions of each person or social community constantly. A certain chain of controllers is as a result formed that more is peculiar to totalitarianism.
Internal social control. Here means that each person controls himself independently, considering the known standards of behavior. Correction of behavior is carried out by means of feeling types and shame which the person feels as a result of violation of social rules. Accurate allocation of norms and values is important for successful functioning of self-checking.

Formal and informal social control

As it was already told, external regulation is divided into two separate groups:

Formal control. Means official consent or denial from the power or the different organizations, media, education systems and so on. Different laws, decrees, instructions and other documents are for this purpose used. Formal social control is a number of actions which are intended to force the person to respect the law. For this purpose there are different authorities. It yields good results in big groups.
Informal control. In this case receiving approval or condemnation from relatives, friends, colleagues and other people from an environment is meant. Traditions, customs and media are for this purpose used. Informal control is exercised by such social institutes: family, school and church. It yields results at a reference point on little groups.

Social control and self-checking

It was already told that internal social control still is called self-checking and mean assessment and regulation of own emotions, thoughts and behavior by it. In this case the will which defines ability of the person to accept and realize conscious decisions is of great importance. Social control provides an opportunity to achieve goals in life. It can be defined, being guided by congenital genetic characteristics and by psychological human skills.

Social control and deviation

The deviation from social norms or deviation means behavior of the certain person or group of persons which contradicts the existing norms. They can accept different formations. As an example violators it is possible to cite criminals, sinners, innovators, geniuses and other people whose behavior is distinguished for sides of legal. It should be noted the fact that to define social control of deviant behavior very difficult as often situations are not unambiguous

The aspiration to similar deviations can be near is caused reasons which have the biological, psychological and social nature. The structure of deviation includes three main components: