SOCIAL CONTROL AND

CUSTOMS

BY
THAKER MAHESHWAR
S.Y.P.B.B.SC.NURSING
V.S.C.O.N, AHEMDABAD

 Introduction
Man

is a social animal. He lives in group. Life in a group

requires that each member must recognize his duties and
obligations to his fellowmen and his society. Every society
has harmony and order. Society, in order to exist and
progress, should exercise certain control over its
members. Any deviation from the established way is
considered dangerous to the welfare of the society. Social
control acts as in influence. It may be through public
opinion, compulsion, social suggestion, religion etc. This
influence is exercised by a group. The group may be
family, church, state, school,etc. The influence is
exercised to promote the welfare of the group as a whole.

Meaning and definition

Social

control differs from self control is

individual while social control is for the
group. Social control is from without but
self control is from within. Social control
and socialization are inter-related. During
socialization, social control will also be
operating. Social control is necessary to
maintain the old order.
Definition

Cont..
Social

control refers to the system of device

whereby society brings its members into conformity
with the accepted standards of behaviour
By lundbergs

Social

control designates those social behaviours

which influence individuals or groups towards
conformity to established or desired norms

Social

control is the sum of those methods by

which a society tries to influence human behaviour
to maintain a given order
By Karl Mannheim

ESSENSTIALS OF
SOCIAL CONTROL
The
influenc
The
e is
influenc
exercise
Is an
e is
d
for
influenc
exercise promoti
e
d by
ng the
society: welfare
of the
group:

Social
control
is
ancient
and
univers
al:

DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CONCEPT OF SOCIAL
CONTROL

NEED FOR SOCIAL CONTROL

CUSTOMS
In

day to day life man performs several activities. He

eats, drinks, thinks, greets his friends, trains the youth,
etc. But he cannot do these activities in whichever
fashion he likes. He has to follow the way that has
been prescribed by the society. Society experts him to
act in a certain way. It also down the conduct that
should be gradually observed. These are customs.
They are usage in wherever we do. They are a part of
our social heritage. They are passed on from one
generation to another with a few changes. They are
found in all societies, and they differ widely from place
to place, community to community. They are most
important in less advanced communities.

Definitions of customs
Customs

are the way or methods of acting

sanctioned or recognised by society.

By C.H.Page

Customs

refers to practice that have been

often repeated by a multitude of generations,
practices that tend to be followed simply
because they have been followed in the past
By Kingsly Davis

NATURE OF CUSTOMS
Customs grow spontaneously:
Passed from generation to

generation
Origin of customs is obscure:
Customs are varied:

NATURE OF CUSTOMS

CHARACTERISTICS OF
CUSTOMS:
Customs

are accepted and established

forms of behaviour.
Folkways, when continued over
generation, take the forms of customs.
Customs are traditional.
They are effective means of control,
because those who against customs are
punished.
They are regulatory in nature.
They are unwritten codes of behaviour.

CUSTOMS AND HABITS

Customs

and habits are very closely related. According to

R.M.Maclver and C.H.Page habits mean an acquired facility
to act in a certain manner without resort to deliberation
and thought. Persons tend to react in the manner which
they have been accustomed to. For example smoking,
drinking coffee or tea regularly, etc. Habits are a second
nature with us. Once they develop, they tend to become
permanent. Then it becomes difficult for us to act in a way
different from the habitual ones. A habit is a strongly
established and deeply rooted mode of response. As
Maclver and Page have pointed out, habit is the
instrument of life. It economizes energy, reduces drudgery
and saves the needless expenditure of thought. William
James considers it a preciously conservative agent.

Difference between customs

and habits
Customs
It has an external
sanction
It is a social
phenomenon
It is inherited
It is socially recognized
It maintain social order
It is normative
It has got great social
significance

Habit
It has no external
sanction.
It is an individual
phenomenon
It is learned
It is not socially
recognized
It facilitates individual
activity
It is not normative

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