8 Social Control

Definition

Any time we as humans choose whether to partake in certain activities or share our opinions on certain topics, we are probably being at least slightly motivated by the effects of social control. Social control is defined broadly as “a collection of mechanisms to induce compliance to norms” (Likki & Staerklé, 2014). In other words, society maintains order through exerting pressures and patterns of behaviors on the people within it (Carmichael, 2012). These pressures can manifest in a variety of ways in different areas of life. A few brief examples of this include the role of law enforcement in reducing crime rates and the creation of the addict stigma to encourage people to avoid addiction. Social control looks different in various regions and cultures, but still tends to serve the same role across the board: to enforce norms and resolve conflicts (Jang & Agnew, 2015).

The application of social control is most widely discussed with respect to its role in the reduction of crime rates. One article explores the diminishing effect of social control as people age. It uses social control theory to explain crime in terms of the absence of positive relationships with conventional others. It posits that youth are less delinquent because they are emotionally bonded to others close to them, committed to conventional goals and accept laws as morally binding (Jang & Agnew, 2015). As people age, they might realize that they do not have an issue with the consequences of their actions and may choose to ignore society’s norms. It has also been suggested that instituting a heavier enforcement of social norms may act as more indirect social control than expanding the law enforcement team. Some examples that may exhibit this effect include “verbal correction, humiliation, ostracism, banishment, fines, beating, incarceration, and execution” (Jang & Agnew, 2015). Several of these tactics have been deemed morally unjust, but they were employed at some point in history as a method of discouraging certain behaviors in the general society. Arguably the most powerful of these examples employed throughout history was execution as the cost for committing particularly heinous crimes. Executions were treated as major events, especially in smaller communities, where the offender was prominently displayed before the rest of the community as they paid the price for their unacceptable actions. This served as a form of social control for the rest of society by implicitly threatening them with the consequence of participating in similar activities, the goal being that people will think twice before engaging in them. Less morally damning and emotionally traumatizing modern uses of social control are still intended to have a similar effect. One article from the New York Times explores what may happen if law enforcement followed through on arrests instead of dismissing the cases. Engaging in criminal acts would have higher stakes associated with it, which would exert a higher degree of social control over the situation with a relatively small change in procedure (Roberts, 2018). This idea portrays the power of social control to affect people’s actions despite it requiring minimal effort on the part of those trying to decrease crime. Overall, there are an abundance of potential tactics to generate social control in an effort to control crime rates; the debate lies in which methods to choose and how to appropriately implement them in different areas.

Social Control in Politics and Media

Furthermore, politics is another realm where social control influences are applied. Political leaders and institutions have exerted social control tactics for centuries, shaping societal norms and behaviors. Political campaigns heavily rely on social control strategies, most commonly in election seasons, where political leaders use targeted messaging and communication techniques to influence voter behavior and shape public opinion. Campaigns often look to leverage normative appeals to encourage desired behavior, and one example of leaders doing this is urging citizens to participate in elections and engage in their communities. Many leaders have framed election participation as a “civic duty,” which increases turnout rates. Social control strategies are also used to encourage community involvement and environmental stewardship. To gain support from new demographics, many political candidates build coalitions with diverse groups and communities to amplify their messages and reinforce shared norms. This strategy helps drive collective action, leading to more votes and comprehensive support for a campaign. While controversial, Negative campaigning is a common strategy of social control in politics, where leaders look to influence voter behaviors by highlighting the flaws and weaknesses of opposing candidates. We often see this in the media, with negative ads created and posted online to influence candidates’ perceptions and agendas.

Moreover, rapid technological developments have led to a new realm for social control strategies, specifically with social media evolving into a powerful tool for shaping and reinforcing societal norms and behaviors. Media content is created and distributed to target specific demographics, with many platforms having certain algorithms customized to users. These algorithms are designed to promote specific content and amplify certain viewpoints that interest users. With social media being such a large part of our lives today, users are subtly guided to conform to the opinions and behaviors shown in their feeds.

Along with this, the prevalence of social media exposure among younger audiences changes how our generations consume and perceive information. Growing up in a digital age saturated with social media content, young people are becoming increasingly more inclined to trust and internalize things they see online. This raises questions about the potential for manipulation and the influence of algorithm-driven content on shaping attitudes and beliefs at a young age. Overall, the evolution of social media as a pervasive influence on society is just one of the examples of the prevalence of social control theory in our society.

Challenges

Here is where you will discuss those who may disagree with the theory or concept.

Relationship to STS

Here is where you will describe how your theory or concept directly relates to STS.

Examples

Here you will provide examples of this theory or concept as it relates to STS.

Missing Voices

Here you will provide information about ways that voices may have been left out of the conversation about this theory or concept.

One missing voice that might be interesting to include would be the voices of Native Americans and how they have been controlled as a group in the US.

Summary

Here you will provide an infographic that sums up your theory or concept that includes a brief definition, its relationship to STS, and brief examples.

Chapter Questions

1. What are the ethical considerations surrounding the different methods of social control?
2. How do cultural differences influence the methods and effectiveness of social control mechanisms in different societies?

 References

Carmichael, J. (2012, June 26). Social Control. Oxford Bibliographies. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756384/obo-9780199756384-0048.xml

Cohen, S. (1989). Critical discourse on “social control”: Notes on the concept as a Hammer. Critical Discourse on “Social Control”: Notes on the Concept as a Hammer | Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/critical-discourse-social-control-notes-concept-hammer

Dafoe. (2015). On Technological Determinism: A Typology, Scope Conditions, and a Mechanism. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 40(6), 1047–1076. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243915579283

Ford, T. L. (2017, November 10). Life unfiltered: Social control theory in the age of social media and substance abuse. Scholarly Works @ SHSU. https://shsu-ir.tdl.org/items/7ee40bef-0435-4818-8090-8292f41a9994

Harris, J., & McElrath, K. (2012, June 22). Methadone as social control: Institutionalized stigma and the prospect of recovery. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22232295/

Jang, S. J., & Agnew, R. (2015). Social Control. ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/social-control

Likki, T., & Staerklé, C. (2014, January 16). A typology of ideological attitudes towards social solidarity and Social Control. Wiley Online Library. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/casp.2181

Marx, G. T. (n.d.). Technology and Social Control. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. http://web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/tech_soc_control.pdf

Roberts, S. (2018, July 29). The ‘Social Control’ Elements of New York’s Criminal Justice System. The New York Times, pp. 3–3. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/nyregion/social-control-elements-of-new-yorks-criminal-justice-system.html.

Wickes, R., Hipp, J., Sargeant, E., & Mazerolle, L. (2016, January 1). Neighborhood Social Ties and Shared Expectations for Informal Social Control: Do They Influence Informal Social Control Actions? Springer Link. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://link-springer-com.libproxy.clemson.edu/article/10.1007/s10940-016-9285-x