Key Words

Formal social control

Institutions -E.g. Police, law and legal system, government and military directly and explicitly control the behaviour of the population for example, the passing and enforcement of laws It is obvious -people know it is happening; the rules are often written down and punishments are applied.

Total institutions

Direct control experienced by some members of society in institutions such as prisons, psychiatric hospitals and the army.

Selective law enforcement

Where the applications of laws and penalties are not equal. Upper and middle class rarely get prosecuted for their crimes whereas prosecutions of the of the working class are frequent.

Informal social control

Unofficial reactions from individuals or groups that enforce social norms without legal authority. Subtle but powerful through positive and negative sanctions.

Institutional racism

Ways in which societal structures (government agencies, schools, banks, and courts) create discriminatory outcomes against minority groups. An organisations entrenched policies, practices, and cultural norms inherently disadvantage people based on their race, even without individual prejudice.