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, at a meeting, acquaintances bow and smile at each other, they send for the holidays Greeting Cards? 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 are also formed as a result of the acquisition of skills and are established by traditions. 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, and civil holidays, and production skills, etc. At present, the role of the main social regulator in modern societies, they no longer perform customs, but social institutions. 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 act important element 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 the individual is at the same time a member 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 Are they punishments or rewards? installed by the system dogmas and beliefs of a certain religion, depending on whether the behavior of the individual 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 are 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 in. 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”.

SOCIOLOGY: HISTORY, FOUNDATIONS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN RUSSIA

Chapter 4
TYPES AND FORMS OF RELATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SYSTEM

4.2. social control

Social control, what is it? How does social control relate to social bonding? 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 which the necessary conditions are created for the stability of the 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 the various deviations from the social norms of activity that take place in society in order to punish accordingly the deviations that are harmful to society, and to encourage those necessary for its further development.

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 are also formed as a result of the acquisition of skills and are established by traditions. 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 is no longer performed by customs, but by social institutions. Customs in a “pure” form have been preserved even in the sphere of everyday life, morality, civil rituals and in various kinds of conditional rules - conventions (for example, traffic rules). Depending on the system of social relations in which they are located, customs are divided into progressive and reactionary, obsolete. A struggle is being waged against outdated customs in developed countries, and 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 various forms of behavior and attitudes 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 are 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 means the supervision of the prosecutor's office over the precise and uniform execution of laws by all ministries, departments, enterprises, institutions and other 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 the beginning of the 19th century. 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 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”.

Term "social control" was introduced into scientific circulation by the French sociologist and social psychologist Tarde. He viewed it as an important remedy for criminal behavior. Subsequently, Tarde expanded the understanding of this term and considered social control as one of the main factors of socialization.

Social control is a mechanism for social regulation of behavior and maintenance public order.

Informal and formal control

Informal control is based on the acceptance or condemnation of a person's actions on the part of her relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, as well as on the part of public opinion, which is expressed through customs and traditions, or through means mass media.

There were very few established norms in traditional society. Most aspects of the lives of members of traditional rural communities were controlled informally. Strict compliance rituals and ceremonies associated with traditional holidays and rituals, brought up respect for social norms, an understanding of their necessity.

Informal control is limited to a small group; in a large group it is ineffective. The agents of informal control are relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Formal control is based on the approval or condemnation of a person's actions by official authorities and administration. In difficult modern society which has many thousands or even millions of people, it is impossible to maintain order by means of informal control. In modern society, order is controlled by special social institutions, such as courts, educational institutions, army, church, mass media, enterprises, etc. Accordingly, the agents of formal control are the employees of these institutions.

If an individual goes beyond social norms, and his behavior does not meet social expectations, he will certainly face sanctions, that is, with the emotional reaction of people to normatively regulated behavior.

Sanctions- this is the punishment and reward applied by a social group to an individual.

Since social control can be formal or informal, there are four main types of sanctions: formal positive, formal negative, informal positive and informal negative.

Formal positive sanctions- this is public approval from official organizations: certificates, awards, titles and titles, state awards and high positions. They are closely related to the presence of prescriptions, determine how the individual should behave and which rewards are provided for compliance with normative prescriptions.

Formal negative sanctions- these are the penalties provided for by legal laws, government regulations, administrative instructions and orders: deprivation of civil rights, imprisonment, arrest, dismissal from work, fine, official penalty, reprimand, the death penalty etc. They are associated with the presence of regulations governing the behavior of the individual and indicate what kind of punishment is intended for non-compliance with these norms.

Informal positive sanctions- this is public approval from unofficial persons and organizations: public praise, compliment, silent approval, applause, fame, smile, and the like.

Informal negative sanctions- this is a punishment unforeseen by official authorities, such as a remark, ridicule, a cruel joke, neglect, an unfriendly review, slander, etc.

The typology of sanctions depends on the system of educational features we have chosen.

Given the method of application of sanctions, current and prospective sanctions are distinguished.

Current sanctions are those that actually apply in a certain generality. Everyone can be sure that if he goes beyond the existing social norms, he will be punished or rewarded in accordance with the existing regulations.

Perspective sanctions are associated with the promises of punishment or reward to the individual in case of going beyond the limits of normative prescriptions. Very often the mere threat of punishment (the promise of a reward) is sufficient to keep the individual within the normative framework.

Another criterion for dividing sanctions is related to the time of their application.

Repressive sanctions are applied after an individual performs a certain action. The amount of punishment or reward is determined by public beliefs regarding the harmfulness or usefulness of its action.

Preventive sanctions are applied even before an individual performs a certain action. Preventive sanctions are applied in order to incline the individual to the type of behavior that society needs.

Today, in most civilized countries, the prevailing belief is the "crisis of punishment", the crisis of state and police control. There is an increasing movement to abolish not only the death penalty, but also imprisonment and in the transition to alternative penalties and the restoration of the rights of victims.

Progressive and promising in world criminology and sociology of deviations is the idea of ​​preventiveness.

Theoretically, the possibility of crime prevention has long been known. Charles Montesquieu in his work "The Spirit of the Laws" noted that "a good legislator is not so worried about the punishment for a crime, as he will try to prevent a crime not so much to punish as to improve morality." Preventive sanctions improve social conditions, create a more favorable atmosphere and reduce inhumane acts. They are able to protect specific person, a potential victim from possible encroachments.

However, there is another point of view. While agreeing that the prevention of crime (as well as other forms of deviant behavior) is democratic, liberal and progressive than repression, some sociologists (T. Mathyssen, B. Andersen and others) question the realism and effectiveness of preventive measures. their arguments are:

Since deviance is a certain conditional construct, a product of social agreements (why, for example, in one society alcohol is allowed, and in another - its use is considered a deviation?), Then the legislator decides what is an offense. Will prevention become a way to strengthen the position of those in power?

Prevention involves the impact on the causes of deviant behavior. And who can say with certainty that he knows these reasons? There are dozens of theories explaining the causes of deviations. Which of them can be taken as a basis and applied in practice?

Prevention is always an intervention in the privacy of a person. Therefore, there is a danger of violation of human rights through the introduction of preventive measures (for example, violation of the rights of homosexuals in the USSR).

The tightening of sanctions depends on:

Measures of formalization of the role. The military, policemen, doctors are controlled very strictly, both formally and by the public, and, say, friendship is realized through non-formalized social roles, so the sanctions here are rather arbitrary.

Prestige Status: Roles associated with prestige status are subject to harsh external scrutiny and self-monitoring.

The cohesion of the group within which role behavior occurs, and hence the forces of group control.

Control questions and tasks

1. What behavior is called deviant?

2. What is the relativity of deviation?

3. What behavior is called delinquent?

4. What are the causes of deviant and delinquent behavior?

5. What is the difference between delinquent and deviant behavior?

6. Name the functions of social deviations.

7. Describe the biological and psychological theories deviant behavior and crime.

8. Describe the sociological theories of deviant behavior and crime.

9. What functions does the system of social control perform?

10. What are "sanctions"? What types of sanctions?

11. What is the difference between formal and informal sanctions?

12. What are the differences between repressive and preventive sanctions.

13. Give examples of what determines the severity of sanctions.

14. What is the difference between the methods of informal and formal control?

15. Name the agents of informal and formal control.

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 countries 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 a bride, the methods of resolving disputes and conflicts, the methods of courtship, the choice of the name of a 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 by 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. These include judges, police officers, psychiatrists, social workers, special church officials, etc.

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

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 people's behavior and make it predictable, are included in both a social institution and 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

AT 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 requires on this moment. Of course, it is not always easy to force a person to do what society wants him to do.

- a mechanism for maintaining public order through regulatory regulation, which implies 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 changes. 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 the Latin sanctio - the strictest decree) of a negative nature must 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 hand, 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 submission of the individual social group, in which he is integrated, which is expressed in a 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 regard, 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 use of positive or negative sanctions for the social behavior of the 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. Violation of other social norms is followed by severe punishments - 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 a person 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, so self-control is essential condition social behavior of people. 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.