A society maintains control through various agencies like law, education, and traditions. These agencies of social control guide people’s behaviour. The methods of control depend on how complex the society is.
Law is the most powerful tool in modern societies, created by governments and enforced through formal agencies. Education also plays a key role by passing on values and norms to the younger generation, both informally through family and formally through schools. Public opinion, shaped by media, is another form of control, especially in democratic societies. Propaganda influences people’s beliefs and behaviours, often aligning them with the state’s goals. Coercion, or the use of force, is sometimes used by the state to enforce rules. Customs, learned from childhood, guide behaviour in traditional societies. Religion, based on faith in a higher power, deeply influences moral conduct, often supporting social structures like patriarchy. Morality, which varies by culture, helps individuals distinguish right from wrong and is internalized from a young age. Together, these methods ensure that individuals conform to the expectations of their society.
People may deviate from expected behaviour due to personal desires, like seeking pleasure or material goods through the wrong means. Agencies of social control ensure that individuals follow society’s norms and values, keeping the social order intact. In simple rural societies, customs and traditions are more effective, while in urban societies, laws, education, and public opinion play a larger role.
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