CHAPTER 3
3.2 Social Control
INTERNALIZATION OF NORMS

Every society develops norms that reflect the
cultural values its members consider important
For society to run smoothly these norms must be
upheld
 Two basic ways norms are enforced: internalization
and sanctions

INTERNALIZATION OF NORMS

Internalization- process by which a norm
becomes a part of the individuals personality,
making the person to conform to society
Traffic rules
 Dinner manners

SANCTIONS

Sanctions- rewards or punishments used to
enforce conformity

Positive Sanctions: action that rewards a particular
behavior
Introduce early on through the family; parents praising
their children for good behavior
 Teachers reward students for good work, good grades
 Pay raises at work
 Cheers at athletic events

SANCTIONS

Negative sanctions: punishment or threat of
punishment used to enforce conformity
Threat of punishment is sometimes enough to produce
conformity
 Frowns, ridicule, rejection, imprisonment and death are
forms of negative sanctions
 More important the norm, more serious the negative
sanction
 Must be rewarded for good behavior and punished for bad
behavior for positive and negative sanctions to work

SANCTIONS

Formal sanctions: reward or punishment given by a
formal organization
School, business, or government
 Negative formal: low grades, fired at work, fines, or
imprisonment
 Positive Formal: diplomas, pay raises, promotions, awards


Informal sanction: spontaneous expression of
approval or disapproval given by an individual or a
group
Majority of norms enforced informally
 Positive informal: compliments, smiles, gifts, or pat on the
back
 Negative informal: frowns, gossip, rebukes, insults, ridicule,
ostracism-exclusion from group

SOCIAL CONTROL

Social Control: enforcing of norms through either
internal or external means

Principle means in all societies is self-control


Learned through the internalization of norms
Agents of social control
Police
 Court system
 Religion
 Family
 Public opinion

SOCIAL CONTROL

Individuals must follow certain rules of behavior to
function smoothly



When people ignore society’s basic norms, social order is in
jeopardy
Society's methods for ensuring conformity breaks down,
social stability is lost
All societies must have an effective form of social control