INTERNAL FORMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL

What is internal social control?

The control over our behaviour comes from within ourselves like our personality and values that allow us to conform to the rules of society and fit into groups.

Who can we link to internal social control?

Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.

What is moral conscience or superego?

We conform to society’s expectations and obey it’s rules because our superego tells us to do so. The superego forms part of our personality and tells us what is right and wrong and inflicts guilt on us if we fail to do as it urges. It acts as a regulation on selfish and anti-social behaviour.

How does tradition and culture link to internal social control?

Tradition and culture help to give people something that they belong to and through internalisation, people come to follow the norms and value of this culture to be accepted as a member of a particular community.