SOCIOLOGY: HISTORY, FOUNDATIONS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN RUSSIA

Chapter 4
TYPES AND FORMS OF RELATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SYSTEM

4.2. social control

social control, what does he represent? How does social control relate to social connection? In order to understand this, let's ask ourselves a series of questions. Why do acquaintances bow and smile at each other when they meet, send greeting cards for the holidays? Why do parents send their children to school when they reach a certain age, and why don't people go to work barefoot? A number of similar questions could go on and on. All of them can be formulated as follows. Why do people perform their functions in the same way every day, and why do some functions even pass from generation to generation?

Thanks to this repetition, the continuity and stability of the development of social life is ensured. It makes it possible to anticipate people's reactions to your behavior in advance, this contributes to the mutual adaptation of people to each other, since everyone already knows what he can expect from the other. For example, a driver sitting behind the wheel of a car knows that oncoming cars will keep to the right, and if someone drives towards him and crashes into his car, then he can be punished for this.

Each group develops a number of methods of persuasion, prescriptions and prohibitions, a system of coercion and pressure (up to physical), a system of expression that allow the behavior of individuals and groups to be brought in line with accepted patterns of activity. This system is called the social control system. Briefly, it can be formulated as follows: social control is a mechanism of self-regulation in social systems, which is carried out due to the normative (legal, moral, etc.) regulation of the behavior of individuals.

In this regard, social control also performs the corresponding functions, with the help of it the necessary conditions for sustainability social system, it contributes to the preservation of social stability, as well as, at the same time, positive changes in the social system. Therefore, social control requires greater flexibility and the ability to correctly assess various deviations from social norms activities that take place in society, in order to punish accordingly deviations that are harmful to society, and necessary for its further development- encourage.

The implementation of social control begins in the process of socialization, at which time the individual begins to assimilate social norms and values ​​corresponding to the level of development of society, he develops self-control, and he takes on various social roles that impose on him the need to fulfill role requirements and expectations.

The main elements of the social control system: habit, custom and system of sanctions.

Habit- this is a stable way of behaving in certain situations, in some cases taking on the character of a need for the individual, which does not meet with a negative reaction from the group.

Each individual may have his own habits, for example, getting up early, doing exercises in the morning, wearing a certain style of clothing, etc. There are habits that are common to the entire group. Habits can develop spontaneously, be the product of purposeful upbringing. Over time, many habits develop into stable traits of the individual's character and are carried out automatically. Habits also arise from the acquisition of skills and are established by tradition. Some habits are nothing but survivals of old rites and celebrations.

Usually breaking habits does not lead to negative sanctions. If the behavior of the individual corresponds to the habits accepted in the group, then it meets with recognition.

Custom is a stereotyped form of social regulation of behavior, adopted from the past, which meets certain moral assessments of the group and the violation of which leads to negative sanctions. The custom is directly related to a certain coercion for the recognition of values ​​or coercion in a certain situation.

Often the concept of "custom" is used as a synonym for the concepts of "tradition" and "ritual". By custom is meant the steady adherence to the prescriptions that came from the past, and custom, unlike traditions, does not function in all areas of social life. The difference between a custom and a ritual is not only that it symbolizes certain social relations, but also acts as a means used for the practical transformation and use of various objects.

For example, the custom is to respect honorable people, to give way to old and helpless people, to treat people in a high position in a group according to etiquette, etc. Thus, a custom is a system of values ​​recognized by a group, certain situations in which these values ​​can take place, and standards of behavior corresponding to these values. Disrespect for customs, their non-fulfillment undermines the internal cohesion of the group, since these values ​​​​have a certain importance for the group. The group, using coercion, induces its individual members in certain situations to comply with the standards of behavior corresponding to its values.

In pre-capitalist society, custom was the main social regulator of public life. But custom performs not only the functions of social control, it maintains and strengthens intra-group cohesion, it helps to transmit social and

cultural experience of mankind from generation to generation, I.e. acts as a means of socialization of the younger generation.

Customs include religious rites, civil holidays, production skills, etc. At present, the role of the main social regulator in modern societies, it is no longer customs, but social institutions that carry out. Customs in a “pure” form have been preserved in the sphere of everyday life, morality, civil rituals and in various kinds of conditional rules - conventions (for example, the rules traffic). Depending on the system of social relations in which they are located, customs are divided into progressive and reactionary, obsolete. With outdated customs in developed countries a struggle is being waged, new progressive civil rites and customs are being established.

social sanctions. Sanctions are operational measures and means developed by a group, necessary to control the behavior of its members, the purpose of which is to ensure internal unity and the continuity of social life, stimulating desirable behavior for this and punishing undesirable behavior of members of the group.

Sanctions can be negative(punishment for unwanted actions) and positive(encouragement for desirable, socially approved actions). Social sanctions are an important element of social regulation. Their meaning lies in the fact that they act as an external stimulus that encourages an individual to a certain behavior or a certain attitude towards the action being performed.

There are sanctions formal and informal. Formal sanctions - it is the reaction of formal institutions to some kind of behavior or action in accordance with a predetermined (in a law, charter, regulation) procedure.

Informal (diffuse) sanctions are already a spontaneous, emotionally colored reaction of informal institutions, public opinion, a group of friends, colleagues, neighbors, i.e. immediate environment to behavior that deviates from social expectations.

Since an individual is at the same time a member of different groups and institutions, the same sanctions can reinforce or weaken the action of others.

According to the method of internal pressure, the following sanctions are distinguished:

- legal sanctions - it is a system of punishments and rewards developed and provided for by law;

- ethical sanctions - it is a system of censures, reprimands and motives based on moral principles;

- satirical sanctions - it is a system of all sorts of ridicule, mockery applied to those who behave differently than is customary;

- religious sanctions- these are punishments or rewards established by the system of dogmas and beliefs of a certain religion, depending on whether the individual's behavior violates or corresponds to the prescriptions and prohibitions of this religion [see: 312. p.115].

Moral sanctions are implemented directly by the social group itself through different forms behavior and attitude towards the individual, and legal, political, economic sanctions- through the activities of various social institutions, even specially created for this purpose (judicial-investigative, etc.).

In civilized societies, the following types of sanctions are most common:

Negative informal sanctions - this can be an expression of displeasure, grief on the face, termination of friendships, refusal to shake hands, various gossip, etc. The listed sanctions are important, since they are followed by important social consequences (deprivation of respect, certain benefits, etc.).

Negative formal sanctions are all kinds of punishments that are prescribed by law (fines, arrests, imprisonment, confiscation of property, death sentence, etc.). These punishments act as a threat, intimidation and, at the same time, they warn what awaits an individual for committing antisocial acts.

informal positive sanctions is the reaction of the immediate environment to positive behavior; which corresponds to the standards of behavior and value systems of the group, expressed in the form of encouragement and recognition (expression of respect, praise and flattering reviews

in oral conversation and in print, benevolent gossip, etc.).

Formal positive sanctions are the reaction of formal institutions, carried out by people specially selected for this purpose, to positive behavior (public approval from the authorities, awarding orders and medals, monetary rewards, erection of monuments, etc.).

In the XX century. the interest of researchers in studying the unintended or hidden (latent) consequences of the application of social sanctions has increased. This is due to the fact that tougher punishment can lead to the opposite results, for example, the fear of risk can lead to a decrease in the activity of the individual and the spread of conformity, and the fear of being punished for a relatively minor offense can push a person to commit a more serious crime, hoping to avoid exposure. The effectiveness of certain social sanctions should be determined concretely historically, in connection with a certain socio-economic system, place, time and situation. The study of social sanctions is necessary to identify the consequences and for application both for society and for the individual.

Each group develops a specific system supervision.

Supervision - it is a system of formal and informal ways of detecting undesirable acts and behavior. Also, supervision is one of the forms of activity of various state bodies to ensure the rule of law.

For example, in our country, prosecutorial supervision and judicial supervision are currently distinguished. Under the prosecutor's supervision is meant the supervision of the prosecutor's office over the precise and uniform execution of laws by all ministries, departments, enterprises, institutions and others. public organizations, officials and citizens. And judicial supervision is the procedural activity of the courts to verify the validity and legality of the sentences, decisions, rulings and rulings of the courts.

In 1882 police supervision was legally established in Russia. It was an administrative measure used in the fight against the liberation movement from early XIX v. Police supervision could be open or covert, temporary or lifelong. For example, a supervised person did not have the right to change his place of residence, to be in the state and public service, etc.

But supervision is not only a system of police institutions, investigative bodies, etc., it also includes everyday observation of the actions of an individual from the side of his surroundings. social environment. Thus, the informal system of supervision is a constant assessment of behavior carried out by some members of the group after others, and a mutual assessment, which the individual must reckon with in his behavior. Informal supervision plays a large role in the regulation of daily behavior in daily contacts, in the performance of professional work, and so on.

A system of control based on a system of various institutions ensures that social contacts, interactions and relationships take place within the limits set by the group. These limits are not always too rigid and allow individual “interpretation”.

All procedures by which the behavior of an individual is brought to the norm of a social group are called sanctions.

social sanction - measure of influence, the most important means of social control.

There are the following types of sanctions:

- negative and positive ,

- formal and informal .

Negative sanctions directed against a person who has deviated from social norms.

Positive sanctions aimed at the support and approval of a person who follows these standards.

Formal sanctions imposed by an official, public or state body or their representative.

informal usually involve the reaction of group members, friends, colleagues, relatives, acquaintances, etc.

Thus, it is possible to distinguish four types of sanctions:

1. formal negative,

2. formal positive,

3. informal negative,

4. informal positive.

for instance , five for the student's answer in class - formal positive sanction. An example negative informal sanction may be condemnation of a person at the level of public opinion.

Positive sanctions are usually more powerful than negative sanctions..

for instance For a student, reinforcing academic success with positive grades is more stimulating than a negative grade for a poorly completed assignment.

Sanctions are effective only when there is agreement on the correctness of their application and the authority of those who apply them.

for instance, the nurse can take the penalty for granted if she considers it fair, and if the penalty does not correspond to the misconduct, the nurse will consider that she was treated unfairly, and not only will not correct her behavior, but, on the contrary, may show a negative reaction.

Basic forms of social control

Forms of social control - these are ways of regulating human life in society, which are due to various social (group) processes and are associated with the psychological characteristics of large and small social groups.

Forms of social control predetermine the transition of external social regulation into intrapersonal.

The most common forms of social control are:

traditions,

Morality and manners

Etiquette, manners, habits.

Ø Law - a set of normative acts that have legal force and regulate the formal relations of people across the state.

Laws are directly related to and determined by a particular power in society, which, in turn, leads to the establishment of a certain way of life. Many important events in life (marriage, childbirth, university graduation, etc.) are directly related to laws. Neglect of legal norms can lead to negative socio-psychological consequences.

For example, people living in a civil marriage, with legally unregistered marital relations, may face negative sanctions of an informal nature.

The law acts as an active and effective form of social control.

Ø Taboo – a system of prohibitions on the commission of any actions or thoughts of a person.

One of the most ancient forms of social control, preceding the emergence of laws, is taboo. In primitive society, taboos regulated important aspects of life. It was believed that when prohibitions were violated, supernatural forces should punish the violator. At the level of modern individual consciousness, taboos are most often associated with superstitions - such prejudices, due to which much of what is happening seems to be a manifestation of supernatural forces or an omen.

for instance , a student going to take an exam can change the path if a black cat crosses the road; the young mother is afraid that someone else's gaze will harm the baby, and so on. A person is afraid that if the ritual is not performed by him, then unfavorable consequences for him will certainly arise. Internal taboos are (often at the subconscious level) social prohibitions in the past.

Ø Customs -repetitive, habitual for the majority ways of human behavior, common in a given society.

Customs are assimilated from childhood and have the character of a social habit. The main sign of custom is prevalence. Custom is determined by the conditions of society in this moment time and in that it differs from tradition.

Ø Traditions -are timeless in nature and exist for a long time, being passed down from generation to generation.

Traditions are practices that:

First, they have developed historically in connection with the culture of a given ethnic group;

Secondly, they are passed down from generation to generation;

Thirdly, they are determined by the mentality (spiritual warehouse) of the people.

We can say that traditions are one of the most conservative forms of social control. But traditions can also gradually change and be transformed in accordance with socio-economic and cultural changes that affect social patterns of behavior.

for instance , the tradition of the existence of a patriarchal family is gradually changing in many countries of the world. Compound modern family living under one roof, increasingly includes only two generations: parents - children.

Customs and traditions cover mass forms of behavior and play a huge role in society. The psychological meaning of a custom or tradition – solidarity of people. Solidarity unites people of one society, makes them more united and, therefore, stronger. Punishment (negative sanctions) following the violation of tradition only contributes to maintaining the unity of the group. It is impossible to understand the essence of tradition outside the culture of the people. Many customs are eliminated with the change of life in society.

Ø Moral -special customs that have moral significance and are associated with the understanding of good and evil in a given social group or society.

Morality defines what people traditionally allow or forbid themselves in connection with their ideas about good and bad. Despite the diversity of such representations, moral norms are very similar in most human cultures, regardless of the forms in which they are embodied.

Ø Conscience – a special, unique quality of a person that determines his essence.

According to V. Dahl, conscience - this is moral consciousness, moral instinct or feeling in a person; inner consciousness of good and evil; the secret of the soul, in which the approval or condemnation of each act is recalled; the ability to recognize the quality of an act; a feeling prompting to truth and goodness, averting from lies and evil; involuntary love for the good and for the truth; innate truth in varying degrees of development ( Dictionary living Great Russian language. - St. Petersburg, 1997. - T. 4).

In philosophy and psychology conscience is interpreted as the ability of a person to exercise moral self-control, independently formulate moral duties for himself, demand from himself their fulfillment and evaluate the actions performed (Philosophical Encyclopedic Dictionary. - M., 1983; Psychology: Dictionary. - M., 1990).

Conscience carries internal special controlling functions, it is the absolute guarantor of the implementation of moral principles. At the same time, it is impossible not to notice that, unfortunately, in modern life they do not always contribute to the development of this unique human property.

Ø Morals -the designation of customs that have moral significance and characterize all those forms of behavior of people in a particular social stratum that can be subjected to moral assessment.

Unlike morality, mores are associated with certain social groups. That is, the generally accepted morality in society can be one, but the mores are different.

for instance , the mores of the elite and the mores of the working part of society have significant differences.

On the individual level morals are shown in manners of a person, the peculiarities of his behavior.

Ø Manners – a set of behavioral habits this person or a particular social group.

This external forms behaviors, ways of doing something, characterizing a certain social type. By manners, we can determine to which social group a person belongs, what is his profession or main activity.

Ø Habit -an unconscious action that has been repeated so many times in a person's life that it has become automated.

Habits are formed under the influence of the immediate environment and, above all, family education. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that habits acquirenature of need if they are formed and fixed.

At the first stage of habit formation, due to its novelty, the individual experiences certain difficulties in assimilation. But when action is perfectly learned, it becomes necessary. We do not pay attention to our habits, because it is, as it were, a part of ourselves, it is something natural and necessary. Other people's habits that are not like ours can be quite annoying.

for instance , newlyweds may experience some everyday difficulties due to the difference in habits. And in families that exist long enough and safely, one can observe the unity of habits or agreement about their manifestations.

A famous proverb says:

“Sow a deed, reap a habit,

- maintenance mechanism public order through normative regulation, implying the actions of society aimed at preventing deviant behavior, punishing deviants or correcting them.

The concept of social control

The most important condition for the effective functioning of the social system is the predictability of social actions and social behavior of people, in the absence of which the social system is waiting for disorganization and collapse. Society has certain means by which it ensures the reproduction of existing social relations and interactions. One of these means is social control, the main function of which is to create conditions for the stability of the social system, maintaining social stability and, at the same time, for positive social change. This requires flexibility from social control, including the ability to recognize positive-constructive deviations from social norms, which should be encouraged, and negative-dysfunctional deviations, to which certain sanctions (from Latin sanctio - the strictest decree) of a negative nature should be applied, including including legal ones.

- this, on the one hand, is a mechanism of social regulation, a set of means and methods of social influence, and on the other, the social practice of their use.

In general, the social behavior of the individual proceeds under the control of society and the surrounding people. They not only teach the individual the rules of social behavior in the process of socialization, but also act as agents of social control, monitoring the correct assimilation of social behavior patterns and their implementation in practice. In this regard, social control acts as a special form and method of social regulation of people's behavior in society. Social control is manifested in the subordination of the individual to the social group in which he is integrated, which is expressed in the meaningful or spontaneous adherence to the social norms prescribed by this group.

Social control consists of two elements— social norms and social sanctions.

Social norms are socially approved or legislatively fixed rules, standards, patterns that regulate the social behavior of people.

Social sanctions are rewards and punishments that encourage people to comply with social norms.

social norms

social norms- these are socially approved or legislatively fixed rules, standards, patterns that regulate the social behavior of people. Therefore, social norms are divided into legal norms, moral norms and proper social norms.

Legal regulations - These are norms formally enshrined in various kinds of legislative acts. Violation of legal norms involves legal, administrative and other types of punishment.

moral standards- informal norms functioning in the form of public opinion. The main tool in the system of moral norms is public censure or public approval.

TO social norms usually include:

• group social habits (for example, "don't turn up your nose in front of your own");
• social customs (for example, hospitality);
• social traditions (for example, subordination of children to parents),
• public mores (manners, morality, etiquette);
• social taboos (absolute prohibitions on cannibalism, infanticide, etc.). Customs, traditions, mores, taboos are sometimes called general rules social behavior.

social sanction

Sanction is recognized as the main instrument of social control and represents an incentive for compliance, expressed in the form of encouragement (positive sanction) or punishment (negative sanction). Sanctions are formal, imposed by the state or specially authorized organizations and persons, and informal, expressed by unofficial persons.

Social sanctions - they are rewards and punishments that encourage people to comply with social norms. In this plan social sanctions can be called the guardian of social norms.

Social norms and social sanctions are an inseparable whole, and if some social norm does not have a social sanction accompanying it, then it loses its social regulatory function. For example, in the 19th century in the countries of Western Europe, the birth of children only in a legal marriage was considered a social norm. Therefore, illegitimate children were excluded from the inheritance of their parents' property, they were neglected in everyday communication, they could not enter into worthy marriages. However, society, as it modernized and softened public opinion regarding illegitimate children, gradually began to exclude informal and formal sanctions for violating this norm. As a result, this social norm ceased to exist altogether.

There are the following mechanisms of social control:

• isolation - isolating the deviant from society (for example, imprisonment);
• isolation - limiting the deviant's contacts with others (for example, placement in a psychiatric clinic);
• rehabilitation - a set of measures aimed at returning the deviant to normal life.

Types of social sanctions

Although formal sanctions appear to be more effective, informal sanctions are actually more important to the individual. The need for friendship, love, recognition, or the fear of ridicule and shame are often more effective than orders or fines.

In the process of socialization, forms of external control are internalized so that they become part of his own beliefs. An internal control system is being formed, called self-control. A typical example of self-control is the pangs of conscience of a person who has committed an unworthy act. In a developed society, the mechanisms of self-control prevail over the mechanisms of external control.

Types of social control

In sociology, two main processes of social control are distinguished: the application of positive or negative sanctions for the social behavior of an individual; interiorization (from the French interiorisation - transition from outside to inside) by an individual of social norms of behavior. In this regard, external social control and internal social control, or self-control, are distinguished.

External social control is a set of forms, methods and actions that guarantee compliance with social norms of behavior. There are two types of external control - formal and informal.

Formal social control based on official approval or condemnation, carried out by the authorities state power, political and social organizations, the education system, the media and operates throughout the country, based on written norms - laws, decrees, resolutions, orders and instructions. Formal social control may also include the dominant ideology in society. Speaking of formal social control, they mean, first of all, actions aimed at making people respect laws and order with the help of government representatives. Such control is especially effective in large social groups.

Informal social control based on the approval or condemnation of relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, public opinion, expressed through traditions, customs or the media. The agents of informal social control are such social institutions as family, school, religion. This type of control is especially effective in small social groups.

In the process of social control, violation of some social norms is followed by a very weak punishment, for example, disapproval, an unfriendly look, a smirk. Severe punishments follow for violating other social norms - the death penalty, imprisonment, exile from the country. Violation of taboos and legal laws is punished most severely, certain types of group habits, in particular family habits, are most mildly punished.

Internal social control- independent regulation by the individual of his social behavior in society. In the process of self-control, a person independently regulates his social behavior, coordinating it with generally accepted norms. This type control is manifested, on the one hand, in a sense of guilt, emotional experiences, "remorse" for social action, on the other hand, in the form of an individual's reflection on his social behavior.

An individual's self-control over his own social behavior is formed in the process of his socialization and the formation of socio-psychological mechanisms of his internal self-regulation. The main elements of self-control are consciousness, conscience and will.

- it is an individual form of mental representation of reality in the form of a generalized and subjective model of the surrounding world in the form of verbal concepts and sensory images. Consciousness allows the individual to rationalize his social behavior.

Conscience- the ability of the individual to independently formulate his own moral duties and demand from himself their fulfillment, as well as to make a self-assessment of the actions and deeds performed. Conscience does not allow an individual to violate his established attitudes, principles, beliefs, in accordance with which he builds his social behavior.

Will- conscious regulation by a person of his behavior and activities, expressed in the ability to overcome external and internal difficulties in the performance of purposeful actions and deeds. The will helps the individual to overcome his inner subconscious desires and needs, to act and behave in society in accordance with his convictions.

In the process of social behavior, an individual has to constantly fight with his subconscious, which gives his behavior a spontaneous character, therefore self-control is the most important condition for people's social behavior. Typically, individuals' self-control over their social behavior increases with age. But it also depends on social circumstances and the nature of external social control: the tighter the external control, the weaker the self-control. Moreover, social experience shows that the weaker the individual's self-control, the tougher external control should be in relation to him. However, this is fraught with great social costs, since strict external control is accompanied by social degradation of the individual.

In addition to external and internal social control of the social behavior of an individual, there are also: 1) indirect social control based on identification with a reference law-abiding group; 2) social control based on the wide availability of a variety of ways to achieve goals and satisfy needs, alternative to illegal or immoral.

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Sanctions are the guardians of norms. Social sanctions - an extensive system of rewards for the implementation of norms, and punishments for deviation from them (ie, deviance).

Fig.1 Types of social sanctions.

There are four types of sanctions:

Formal positive sanctions- public approval by official organizations, documented with signatures and seals. These include, for example, awarding orders, titles, prizes, admission to high positions, etc.

Informal positive sanctions- public approval that does not come from official organizations: a compliment, a smile, fame, applause, etc.

Formal negative sanctions- punishments provided for by laws, instructions, decrees, etc. These are arrest, imprisonment, excommunication, a fine, etc.

Informal negative sanctions- punishments not provided for by laws - mockery, censure, notation, neglect, spreading rumors, feuilleton in the newspaper, slander, etc.

Norms and sanctions are combined into one whole. If a norm lacks an accompanying sanction, then it loses its regulatory function. Say, in the 19th century. in Western Europe, the birth of children in a legal marriage was considered the norm. Illegitimate children were excluded from the inheritance of their parents' property, they could not enter into worthy marriages, they were neglected in everyday communication. Gradually, as society modernized, it excluded sanctions for violation of this norm, and public opinion softened. As a result, the norm ceased to exist.

3. Mechanisms of action of social control

By themselves, social norms do not control anything. People's behavior is controlled by other people based on norms that are expected to be followed by everyone. Compliance with norms, like the implementation of sanctions, makes our behavior predictable. Each of us knows, and for a serious crime - imprisonment. When we expect a certain act from another person, we hope that he knows not only the norm, but also the sanction following it.

Thus, norms and sanctions are combined into a single whole. If a norm lacks a sanction that accompanies it, then it ceases to regulate real behavior. It becomes a slogan, an appeal, an appeal, but it ceases to be an element of social control.

The application of social sanctions in some cases requires the presence of outsiders, while in others it does not. The dismissal is formalized by the personnel department of the institution and involves the preliminary issuance of an order or order. Imprisonment requires a complex procedure of judicial proceedings, on the basis of which a judgment is issued. Bringing to administrative responsibility, say a fine for ticketless travel, involves the presence of an official transport controller, and sometimes a policeman. The assignment of a scientific degree involves an equally complex procedure for defending a scientific dissertation and the decision of the Academic Council. Sanctions against violators of group habits require a smaller number of persons, but, nevertheless, they are never applied to oneself. If the application of sanctions is committed by the person himself, directed at himself and occurs inside, then this form of control should be considered self-control.

social control- the most effective tool by which the powerful institutions of society organize the life of ordinary citizens. The instruments, or in this case the methods, of social control are of great variety; they depend on the situation, goals and nature of the particular group where they are used. They range from one-on-one showdowns to psychological pressure, physical abuse, economic coercion. It is not necessary that the control mechanisms were aimed at excluding an undesirable person and incentivizing the loyalty of others. “Isolation” is most often subjected not to the individual himself, but to his actions, statements, relations with other persons.

Unlike self-control, external control is a set of institutions and mechanisms that guarantee compliance with generally accepted norms of behavior and laws. It is divided into informal (intragroup) and formal (institutional).

Formal control is based on the approval or disapproval of official authorities and administration.

Informal control is based on approval or condemnation from a group of relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, as well as from public opinion, which is expressed through traditions and customs or the media.

The traditional rural community controlled all aspects of the life of its members: the choice of the bride, the methods of resolving disputes and conflicts, the methods of courtship, the choice of the name of the newborn, and much more. There were no written rules. Public opinion, most often expressed by the oldest members of the community, acted as a controller. Religion was organically woven into a single system of social control. Strict observance of rituals and ceremonies associated with traditional holidays and ceremonies (for example, marriages, childbirth, reaching maturity, betrothal, harvest) brought up a sense of respect for social norms, instilled a deep understanding of their necessity.

In compact primary groups, extremely effective and at the same time very subtle control mechanisms, such as persuasion, ridicule, gossip and contempt, constantly operate to curb real and potential deviants. Ridicule and gossip are powerful tools of social control in all types of seed groups. Unlike formal methods of control, such as reprimands or demotions, informal methods are available to almost everyone. Both ridicule and gossip can be manipulated by any intelligent person who has access to their transmission channels.

Not only commercial organizations, but both universities and the church successfully use economic sanctions to keep their staff from deviant behavior, i.e., behavior that is regarded as beyond acceptable.

Crosby (1975) singled out four main types of informal control.

Social rewards, manifested as smiles, nods of approval and measures that contribute to obtaining more real benefits (for example, promotion), serve to encourage conformity and indirectly condemn deviance.

Punishment, expressed as a frown, critical remarks and even threats of physical violence, is directly directed against deviant acts and is due to the desire to eradicate them.

Belief is another way to influence deviants. A coach can convince a baseball player who skips practice to keep fit.

The final, more complex type of social control is reassessment of norms- at the same time, behavior that was considered deviant is assessed as normal. For example, in the past, if a husband stayed at home doing housework and taking care of the children while his wife went to work, his behavior was considered unusual and even deviant. At present (mainly as a result of the struggle of women for their rights), roles in the family are gradually being revised, the performance of housework by a man has ceased to be considered reprehensible and shameful.

Informal control can also be performed by the family, circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances. They are called agents of informal control. If we consider the family as a social institution, then we should talk about it as the most important institution of social control.

Formal control historically arose later than informal - during the period of the emergence of complex societies and states, in particular, ancient Eastern empires.

Although, of course, we can easily find its forerunners in an earlier period - in the so-called identities, where the circle of formal sanctions officially applied to violators, for example, the death penalty, expulsion from the tribe, removal from office, as well as all kinds of rewards .

However, in modern society, the importance of formal control has greatly increased. Why? It turns out that in complex society, especially in a country of many millions, it is increasingly difficult to maintain order and stability. Informal control is limited to a small group of people. In a large group, it is ineffective. Therefore, it is called Local (local). On the contrary, formal control operates throughout the country. He is global.

It is carried out special people - formal control. These are persons specially trained and paid for the performance of control functions. They are carriers of social statuses and roles. They include judges, police officers, psychiatrists, social workers, special church officials, and so on.

If in a traditional society social control rested on unwritten rules, then in modern society it is based on written norms: instructions, decrees, decrees, laws. Social control has gained institutional support.

Formal control is exercised by such institutions of modern society as the courts, education, the army, industry, the media, political parties, government. The school controls thanks to examination marks, the government - with the help of a system of taxation and social assistance to the population. State control is exercised through the police, the secret service, state channels of radio, television and the press.

Control methods depending on the sanctions applied subdivided into:

• soft;
• straight;
• indirect.

These four control methods may overlap.

Examples:

1. The media are among the instruments of indirect soft control.
2. Political repressions, racketeering, organized crime - to tools of direct strict control.
3. The action of the constitution and the criminal code - to the instruments of direct soft control.
4. Economic sanctions of the international community - to the instruments of indirect strict control

	Rigid	Soft
Direct	pancreas	PM
Indirect	QOL	KM

Fig.2. Typology of methods of formal control.

4. Functions of social control

According to A.I. Kravchenko, an important role in strengthening the institutions of society is played by the mechanism of social control. The same elements, namely the system of rules and norms of behavior that fix and standardize the behavior of people, making it predictable, are also included in social institution and in social control. “Social control is one of the most commonly accepted concepts in sociology. It refers to the various means that any society uses to curb its recalcitrant members. No society can do without social control. Even a small group of people randomly gathered together will have to develop their own control mechanisms so as not to fall apart in the shortest possible time.

Thus, A.I. Kravchenko highlights the following functions that performs social control in relation to society:

• protective function;
• stabilizing function.

Description

In the modern world, social control is understood as the supervision of human behavior in society in order to prevent conflicts, restore order and maintain the existing social order. The presence of social control is one of the most important conditions for the normal functioning of the state, as well as compliance with its laws. An ideal society is a society in which each of its members does what he wants, but at the same time this is what is expected of him and what the state needs at the moment. Of course, it is not always easy to force a person to do what society wants him to do.

Back to Sanctions

The formation and functioning of small social groups is invariably accompanied by the emergence of a number of laws, customs and traditions. Their main goal becomes the regulation of public life, the preservation of a given order and concern for maintaining the well-being of all members of the community.

Such a phenomenon as social control takes place in all types of society. For the first time this term was used by the French sociologist Gabriel Tarde He, calling it one of the most important means of correcting criminal behavior. Later, social control began to be considered by him as one of the determining factors of socialization.

Among the instruments of social control are called formal and informal incentives and sanctions. The sociology of personality, which is a branch of social psychology, deals with questions and problems related to how people interact within certain groups, as well as how the individual personality is formed. This science under the term "sanctions" also understands encouragement, that is, this is a consequence of any act, regardless of whether it has a positive or negative connotation.

Formal control of public order is entrusted to official structures (human rights and judicial), while informal control is carried out by members of the family, collective, church community, as well as relatives and friends.

While the former is based on state laws, the latter is based on public opinion. Informal control is expressed through customs and traditions, as well as through the media (public approval or censure).

If earlier this type of control was the only one, today it is relevant only for small groups. Thanks to industrialization and globalization, modern groups number great amount people (up to several million), so informal control is untenable.

Sanctions sociology of personality refers to the punishment or reward used in social groups in relation to individuals. This is a reaction to the individual's going beyond the boundaries of generally accepted norms, that is, the consequence of actions that differ from those expected.

Given the types of social control, there are formal positive and negative ones, as well as informal positive and negative sanctions.

Formal sanctions (with a plus sign) are various types of public approval by official organizations. For example, the issuance of diplomas, awards, titles, titles, state awards and appointment to high positions.

Such incentives necessarily provide for the conformity of the individual to whom they are applied to certain criteria.

In contrast, there are no clear requirements to merit informal positive sanctions. Examples of such rewards: smiles, handshakes, compliments, praise, applause, public gratitude.

Formal punishments are measures that are set out in legal laws, government regulations, administrative instructions and orders. An individual who violates applicable laws may be subject to imprisonment, arrest, dismissal from work, a fine, official reprimand, reprimand, death penalty and other sanctions.

The difference between such punishments and those provided for by informal control (informal negative sanctions) is that their application requires a specific prescription that regulates the individual's behavior.

It contains criteria related to the norm, a list of actions (or inaction) that are considered as violations, as well as a measure of punishment for the act (or lack of it).

Types of punishments that are not fixed at the official level become informal negative sanctions. It can be ridicule, contempt, verbal reprimands, unfriendly reviews, remarks, and others.

Everything existing species sanctions are divided into repressive and preventive. The former are applied after the individual has already performed the action. The amount of such punishment or encouragement depends on social beliefs that determine the harmfulness or usefulness of an act.

The second (preventive) sanctions are designed to prevent the commission of specific actions. That is, their goal is to persuade the individual to the behavior that is considered normal. For example, informal positive sanctions in the school system are designed to develop the habit of “doing the right thing” in children.

The result of such a policy is conformism: a kind of "disguise" of the true motives and desires of the individual under the camouflage of instilled values.

Many experts come to the conclusion that informal positive sanctions allow for more humane and effective control of the individual's behavior.

By applying various incentives and reinforcing socially acceptable actions, it is possible to develop a system of beliefs and values ​​that will prevent the manifestation of deviant behavior. Psychologists recommend using informal positive sanctions as often as possible in the process of raising children.

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informal

So, social sanctions play a key role in the system of social control.

Together with values ​​and norms, they constitute

self-control. Thus, depending on the method of imposing sanctions - collective or individual - social control can be external and internal tough, and nonstrict, or soft.

External control- subdivided into informal and formal. Informal control

formal control agents of formal control.

Public opinion

socialization and control basis legal regulations: the laws.

Publication date: 2014-11-02; Read: 244 | Page copyright infringement

informal

Formal positive sanctions (F+): — public approval from official organizations: government awards, state awards, titles, academic degrees and titles, construction of a monument, admission to high positions and honorary functions.

Informal positive sanctions (H+): — public approval that does not come from official organizations: friendly praise, compliments, benevolent disposition, flattering response, smile.

Formal negative sanctions (F-): - punishments provided for by legal laws, government decrees, administrative instructions, prescriptions, orders: deprivation of civil rights, imprisonment, arrest, dismissal, fine, deprivation of bonuses, confiscation of property, demotion, demolition, death penalty, excommunication.

Informal negative sanctions (N-): — punishments not provided for by official authorities: censure, remark, ridicule, mockery, cruel joke, insulting nickname, refusal to give a hand, spreading rumors, slander, complaint.

So, social sanctions play a key role in the system of social control. Together with values ​​and norms, they constitute mechanism of social control. Norms and sanctions are combined into a single whole. If a norm does not have a sanction accompanying its violation, then it ceases to regulate the real behavior of people. It becomes a slogan, an appeal, an appeal, but it ceases to be an element of social control.

Application of social sanctions in some cases, it requires the presence of outsiders, while in others it does not require (for example, imprisonment requires a complex procedure for litigation; awarding an academic degree involves a complex procedure for defending a dissertation and the decision of an academic council). If the application of the sanction is committed by the person himself, directed at himself and occurs inside, then this form of control should be considered self-control.

Thus, depending on the method of imposing sanctions - collective or individual - social control can be external and internal. According to the degree of intensity, the sanctions are strict, or tough, and nonstrict, or soft.

External control- subdivided into informal and formal. Informal control is based on approval or condemnation from relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances (they are called agents of informal control), as well as public opinion.

formal control based on the approval or disapproval of official authorities or administration. In modern society, the importance of formal control is increasing. It is carried out by special people - agents of formal control. These are people specially trained and paid for performing supervisory functions (judges, police officers, social workers, psychiatrists, etc.). Formal control is carried out by such institutions of modern society as the courts, the education system, the army, production, the media, political parties, and the government.

Public opinion- a set of assessments, ideas and judgments shared by the majority of the population or part of it; state of mass consciousness. It is in the production team, in a small village, it is in the social class, ethnic group, society as a whole. The impact of public opinion is very strong. Sociology is a very broad study of public opinion. This is her main subject. Questionnaires and interviews are aimed primarily at him.

It is easy to see the similarity of the two processes in society - socialization and control. The subjects of influence in both cases are agents and institutions. In modern society basis social control advocate legal regulations: the laws.

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Studopedia.org - Studopedia.Org - 2014-2018. (0.001 s) ...

Sanctions are the reactions of society to the actions of the individual.

The emergence of a system of social sanctions, like norms, was not accidental. If norms are created to protect the values ​​of society, then sanctions are designed to protect and strengthen the system of social norms. If a norm is not supported by a sanction, it ceases to be valid.

Thus, the three elements - values, norms and sanctions - form a single chain of social control. In this chain, sanctions are assigned the role of a tool with which the individual first gets acquainted with the norm, and then realizes the values.

Sanctions are of different types.

Among them are positive and negative, formal and informal.

positive(positive) sanctions are the approval, praise, recognition, encouragement, glory, honor that others reward those who act within the framework of socially accepted norms. Every activity has its own incentives.

Negative sanctions- condemning or punishing the actions of society in relation to those individuals who violate the norms accepted in society. Negative sanctions include censure, dissatisfaction with others, condemnation, reprimand, criticism, a fine, as well as more severe actions - detention, imprisonment or confiscation of property. The threat of negative sanctions is more effective than the expectation of encouragement. At the same time, society strives to ensure that negative sanctions do not punish as much as prevent violations of norms, be proactive, not late.

Formal sanctions come from official organizations - the government or the administration of institutions that are guided in their actions by officially adopted documents

Informal sanctions come from the immediate environment of the individual and are in the nature of informal, often verbal and emotional assessments.

Social behavior that corresponds to the norms and values ​​​​defined in society is designated as conformist (from Latin conformis - similar, similar). The main task of social control is the reproduction of a conformist type of behavior.

Social sanctions are used to control the observance of norms and values. Sanction is the reaction of the group to the behavior of the social subject. With the help of sanctions, the normative regulation of the social system and its subsystems is carried out.

Sanctions are not only punishments, but also incentives that contribute to the observance of social norms. Along with values, they contribute to the observance of social norms and thus social norms are protected from two sides, from the side of values ​​and from the side of sanctions. Social sanctions are an extensive system of rewards for the implementation of social norms, that is, for conformity, agreement with them, and a system of punishments for deviation from them, that is, deviance.

Negative sanctions are linked with socially unapproved violations of norms, Depending on the degree of rigidity of the norms, they can be divided into punishments and censures:

forms of punishment- administrative penalties, restriction of access to social valuable resources, prosecution, etc.

forms of censure- expression of public disapproval, refusal to cooperate, rupture of relations, etc.

The use of positive sanctions is associated not only with the observance of norms, but with the performance of a number of socially significant services aimed at preserving values ​​and norms. The forms of positive sanctions are rewards, monetary rewards, privileges, approval, etc.

Along with negative and positive, formal and informal sanctions are distinguished, which differ depending on the institutions that use them and the nature of their action:

formal sanctions implemented by official institutions sanctioned by society - law enforcement agencies, courts, tax authorities, the penitentiary system.

informal applied by informal institutions (comrades, family, neighbors).

There are four types of sanctions: positive, negative, formal, informal. Οʜᴎ give four types of combinations that can be represented as a logical square.

(F+) Formal positive sanctions. This is a public endorsement by official organizations. Such approval can be expressed in government awards, state prizes and scholarships, bestowed titles, erection of monuments, presentation of diplomas or admission to high positions and honorary functions (for example: election as chairman of the board).

(H+) Informal Positive Sanctions—Public approval that does not come from official organizations can be expressed in terms of friendly praise, compliment, honor, flattering feedback, or recognition of leadership or expertise. (just a smile) (F)-) formal negative sanctions - punishments provided for by legal laws, government decrees, administrative instructions, orders and orders can be expressed in arrest, imprisonment, dismissal, deprivation of civil rights, confiscation of property, fine, demolition, excommunication from the church, the death penalty.

(N-) informal negative sanctions - punishment not provided for by official authorities: censure, remarks, ridicule, neglect, unflattering nickname, refusal to maintain relations, disapproving feedback, complaint, exposing article in the press.

Four groups of sanctions help to determine what behavior of an individual can be considered beneficial for the group:

— legal - a system of punishments for actions prescribed by law.

— ethical - a system of censures, remarks arising from moral principles,

— satirical - ridicule, neglect, smirks, etc.,

— religious sanctions .

French sociologist R.

Lapierre identifies three types of sanctions:

— physical , with the help of which punishment is carried out for violation of social norms;

— economic blocking the satisfaction of urgent needs (fines, penalties, restrictions on the use of resources, dismissals); administrative (downgrading of social status, warnings, penalties, removal from office).

Τᴀᴋᴎᴍ ᴏϬᴩᴀᴈᴏᴍ, sanctions together with values ​​and norms constitute the mechanism of social control. Regulations by themselves do not control anything. People's behavior is controlled by other people on the basis of norms. Compliance with norms, like the implementation of sanctions, makes people's behavior predictable,

Τᴀᴋᴎᴍ ᴏϬᴩᴀᴈᴏᴍ, norms and sanctions are combined into a single whole. If some norm does not have a sanction accompanying it, then it ceases to regulate behavior and becomes just a slogan or appeal, and not an element of social control.

The application of social sanctions in some cases requires the presence of outsiders, and in others it does not (imprisonment requires a serious trial, on the basis of which a sentence is issued). The award of a degree requires at least difficult process dissertation defense and decisions of the Academic Council. If the application of the sanction is made by the person himself, directed at himself and occurs inside, then this form of control is called self-control. Self-control is internal control.

Individuals independently control their behavior, coordinating it with generally accepted norms. In the process of socialization, norms are assimilated so firmly that people who violate them feel guilty. Approximately 70% of social control is carried out through self-control. The more self-control is developed among members of a society, the less it is extremely important for this society to resort to external control, and, conversely, the weaker self-control, the tougher external control should be. At the same time, strict external control, petty guardianship of citizens, hinder the development of self-consciousness and muffle the volitional efforts of the individual, as a result, a dictatorship arises.

Often a dictatorship is established temporarily for the benefit of citizens, in order to restore order, but citizens who are accustomed to submit to coercive control do not develop internal control, they gradually degrade as social beings, as individuals who are able to take responsibility and do without external coercion, that is, dictatorship, thus, the degree of development of self-control characterizes the type of people prevailing in society and the emerging form of the state. With developed self-control, the likelihood of establishing democracy is high, with undeveloped self-control, dictatorship.