I. Meaning of Social Control: For the smooth functioning of any society, it is essential that its members conduct themselves in a manner that is acceptable to other members of that society. Our behaviour in everyday life is quite orderly and disciplined. We normally do not wish to antagonise (oppose) people we interact with, we do try to stick to various rules and to observe discipline in schools etc. Those who do not obey these norms of society are criticized or looked down upon.
Social control is a general method of regulating the behaviour of individuals in a society through accepted social norms. It is a way to channelize the behaviour of individuals in society so that they conform to the accepted code of conduct. Social control is defined as "the way in which the entire social order coheres and maintains itself operates as a whole, as a changing equilibrium".
This SOCIAL CONTROL refers to the way society controls our behaviour, either through norms and practices or through the state and its compelling force. The regulation of behaviour in Society, whether of individuals or of groups is undertaken in two ways-
(a) By adhering to established norms and values of society. and
(b) By the use of force.
The term "social control" is generally used by Sociology to refer to this first kind of regulation.
II. Need of Social Control: Need of Social Control has been recognised by all social thinkers.
Individuals differ in their interests and capabilities. If each individual is allowed unrestricted freedom to act and behave, it may lead to anarchy and disorder in the society. The resultant conflicts, frequent and persistent, would be a constant drain on society's energy and efficiency.
As an analogy, we could consider traffic movement on roads in the absence of any traffic rules and traffic signals, etc. It is easy to imagine the chaos that would rule the roads and the unending traffic jams that would follow.
The situation in society would be no different if there was no accepted mode of behaviour. Individuals, therefore, have to be made to coexist in a manner that benefits them as well as the groups they comprise of social control becomes a necessity for the following reasons:
(i) To maintain the old order - For continuity and uniformity of a social group, it is important that the old social order is maintained. This function is fulfilled by the family. The old members of the family initiate and socialise the young ones into their traditions, value patterns and accepted forms of behaviour.
(ii) To regulate individual behaviour - Individuals vary in their ideas, interests, attitudes and habits, etc. Even children of the same parents think and behave differently. Thus their behaviour needs to be regulated in accordance with the established norms which would lead to uniformity and solidarity of the group.
(iii) To check cultural maladjustment - Society is changing at a rapid pace. The changes threaten to uproot the existing social system and replace it with a new system. There is a need for greater social control in order to distinguish between good and bad and to retain one's sense of balance and judgement.
