Socialisation & Social Control (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Revision Note
Exam code: C200
Socialisation & social control
Social control refers to how society ensures that people follow its rules, norms, and values
It helps maintain social order — the stable functioning of society, where most people conform to shared expectations
Social control is achieved through socialisation and the use of sanctions (rewards and punishments)
Methods of social control
Socialisation is a method of social control
As people are socialised, they learn to behave in ways that are valued by their culture
Through interaction with agents of socialisation (e.g., family, school, media, etc.), people internalise norms and values
This helps them to regulate their own behaviour without needing external enforcement
These agents of socialisation are also known as agents of social control
When people break the rules, sanctions are used by agents of social control to encourage conformity:
Positive sanctions (e.g., praise, rewards, promotion) encourage behaviour that meets expectations
Negative sanctions (e.g., criticism, detention, fines) discourage behaviour that breaks norms or rules
Formal vs informal social control
Both methods of social control aim to maintain social order by encouraging conformity and discouraging deviance
Sanctions (positive and negative) are central to both forms of control
Informal social control
Informal social control is based on unwritten or informal rules that guide everyday behaviour
Informal social control is carried out by informal agents of socialisation, such as
families
peer groups
teachers
colleagues
These groups influence people’s behaviour through social pressure and the use of sanctions
Examples of informal control
Parents
reward good behaviour with praise or treats
punish bad behaviour by grounding their child or taking away privileges
Teachers
give positive feedback for effort
reprimand students for being disruptive
Friends
approve of someone’s behaviour by including them
disapprove by gossiping or excluding them
Effectiveness of informal social control
Informal social control works well when individuals value the approval of their social group
It may be ineffective when people belong to delinquent subcultures or groups that reject mainstream norms (e.g., a peer group that encourages truancy or underage drinking)
Formal social control
Formal social control is based on written or explicit rules and laws enforced by the state and other official organisations
It involves the use of formal sanctions, such as fines, imprisonment, or exclusion from work or school
Agencies of formal social control create, enforce, and uphold the laws that govern society
Examples of formal control
Agency of formal social control | How they enforce social control |
|---|---|
Parliament | Create laws that define acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. |
The police | Maintain order, enforce the law, investigate crime and apprehend offenders. |
The judiciary (judges and magistrates in court) | Interprets and applies the law, issuing fines or prison sentences to those found guilty. |
The prison service | Punishes and rehabilitates offenders, and protects the public. |
The probation service | Supervises offenders released into the community to help them reintegrate. |
Schools and workplaces | Use formal rules (e.g., codes of conduct) and apply sanctions such as detention, suspension, or dismissal when rules are broken. |
Effectiveness of formal social control
Formal control is effective because it is backed by coercive power — the authority of the state
However, it may be less effective if:
There is institutional bias, such as racism or class inequality
Prisons fail to rehabilitate offenders, leading to high reoffending rates
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