2.1- Explain forms of social control

What is social control?

*The enforcement of conformity by society upon its members, either by law or by social pressures.

Internal forms of social control

*Controls over our behaviour that come from within ourselves- from our personalities and values (also known as self control).

Types of forms of internal social control- Moral conscience or superego

*Accoridng to Freud’s psychoanalytical theory, we conform to society’s expectations and obey its rules because our superego tells us to. Along with the id and ego, the superego forms part of our personality.

*Our superego tells us what is right and wrong, and inflicts guilt feelings on us if we fail to do as it urges.

*Our superego develops through early socialisation within the family, as a sort of internalised “nagging parent” tells us how we ought to behave. Its function is to restrain it selfish and animalistic urges of the id.

*If we acted on these urges, they would often lead us into anti-social and criminal behaviour- the superego allows us to exercise self control and behave in socially acceptable ways.

Types of forms of internal social control- Tradition and culture

*The culture to which we belong also becomes a part of us through socialisation. We come to accept its norms, values and traditions as part of our identity.

*For example, believers follow the religious traditions they have been raised in such as the Muslim tradition of fasting during Ramadan.

*Conforming to such traditions is an important way of developing ones identify and being accepted as a member of a particular community.

Types of forms of internal social control-

Types of forms of external social control- Coercion

*Coercion involves the use of threat of force in order to make someone do ( or stop doing) something.

*Force may involve physical or psychological violence, or other forms of pressure.

Types of forms of external social control- Fear of punishment