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Lesson 14:Functional concepts of Rural Sociology

Social control

1. Social control is the pattern of influence the society exerts on individuals and groups to maintain order and establish rules in the society. Social control helps in maintenance of desired social values. The means of social control are as detailed below.
2. Folkways- They are the informal ways of behaviour based on habits and traditions, mostly found in usages. Violations of folkways are viewed seriously by the society.
   Ex: Dressing, eating habits etc.
3. Mores- They are socially acceptable ways of behaviour which involves moral standards. They are the group shared understandings of what to do and what not to do in a situation. They exert some amount compulsion and violations leads to social action. They are more powerful than folkways in controlling the behaviour of the individual.
   Ex: Removing chappal while entering into the house.
4. Taboos- The word taboo in a strict sense refers to prohibition of types of behaviour because of some magical, supernatural or religious sanction. Generally the term more use for the positive action i.e. things ought to be done and taboo in for a negative action i.e. things ought not to be done.
   Ex: Muslim girls should not go to mosque.
5. Ritual – Ritual may be defined as a pattern of behaviour or ceremony which has become the customary way of dealing with certain situations, or is the pattern that has been established by law as in the case of governmental affairs or is a part of the rules of a particular organization. Many of the ritualistic rights in primitive cultures are a part of the religion or magic of that group.
   Ex: Ceremony of naming the baby - Namaskaram
6. Norms- They are established behaviour patterns for the members of a social system. The members are expected to follow them. A member who deviates them is considered as deviant of the system.
   Ex: Creating the elder ones
7. Laws- They grow from mores. As the society becomes larger and more complex, codification of mores takes place for strict adherence and compliance.
   Ex: Prohibition on dowry, child labour, child marriages etc.