Social sanction - what is it? Types, examples

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The word "sanctions" is now on everyone's lips, and the meaning of this word is already clear to many. However, the phrase "social sanction" is a little-known sociological term, and it can be confusing. Who and what imposes sanctions in this case?

The concept of sanctions

The term itself comes from the Latin sanctio (strictest ruling). In law, a sanction is considered as an element of a legal norm, which provides for negative consequences for a person who has violated the rules established in such a norm. The concept of social sanctions has a similar meaning. When it comes to a social sanction, then, accordingly, a violation of a social norm is implied.

Social control and social sanctions

The stability of the social system, the preservation of social stability, the emergence of positive changes in society are provided by such a mechanism as social control. Sanctions and norms are its constituent elements.

Society and surrounding people set the rules of social behavior for the individual and exercise social control, controlling the observance of social behavior. Social control in its essence is the subordination of a person to a social group, society, it impliesfollowing social norms. Control is exercised through coercion, public opinion, social institutions, group pressure.

Social sanction is the most important means of social control. In combination with social norms, they form a mechanism of social control. In a broader sense, a social sanction is all measures and means that are aimed at bringing an individual to the norm of a social group, stimulate him to have certain behavior and determine his attitude to the actions performed.

External social control

External control is a combination of mechanisms and institutions that control the activities of people and ensure that social norms are followed. It is divided into formal and informal. Formal control consists in a positive or negative reaction from official bodies. It is based on acts that have legal and administrative force: laws, decrees, resolutions. It applies to all citizens of the country. Informal control is based on the reactions of others: approval or disapproval. It is not formalized and is not effective in a large group.

External control may include isolation (prison), isolation (partial isolation, detention in a colony, hospital), rehabilitation (assistance in returning to normal life).

Internal social control

If social control is too strong and petty, it canlead to negative results. An individual may lose control over his own behavior, independence, initiative. Therefore, it is very important that a person has internal social control, or self-control. A person himself will coordinate his behavior with accepted norms. The mechanisms of this control are guilt and conscience.

Social norms

Social norms are generally accepted standards that ensure orderliness, sustainability and stability of social interaction between social groups and individuals. They are aimed at regulating what people say, think, do in specific situations. Norms are standards not only for society, but also for specific social groups.

Social norms are not documented and are often unwritten rules. Signs of social norms include:

General validity. Applies to a group or society as a whole, but may not apply to just one or more members of the group.
The ability of a group or society to apply approval, censure, rewards, punishments, sanctions.
The presence of the subjective side. The individual decides whether or not to accept the social norms of the group or society.
Interdependence. All norms are interconnected and interdependent. Social norms can conflict with each other and this creates personal and social conflict.
Scale. By scale, norms are divided into social and group.

Types of social norms

Social norms are divided into:

Rules of law are formal rules of conduct established and protected by the state. The rule of law includes social taboos (pedophilia, cannibalism, murder).
Moral norms - society's ideas about manners, morality, etiquette. These norms work due to the internal beliefs of the individual, public opinion, measures of social influence. Moral norms are not homogeneous throughout society, and a certain social group may have norms that are contrary to the norms of society as a whole.
Norms of customs - traditions and customs that have developed in society and are regularly repeated by the entire social group. Following them is basically a habit. Such norms include customs, traditions, rituals, rituals.
The norms of organizations are the rules of conduct within organizations, which are reflected in their charters, regulations, rules, apply to employees or members, and are protected by measures of public influence. Such norms apply in trade unions, political parties, clubs, companies.

Types of social sanctions

There are four types of social sanctions: positive and negative, formal and informal.

A negative social sanction is a punishment for unwanted actions. It is directed against a person who has deviated from accepted social norms.
Positive Sanctions - encouragement for actions approved by society, aimed at supporting an individual who follows the norms.
Formal socialsanctions - come from official, public, state bodies.
Informal sanctions are the reaction of members of a social group.

All types of sanctions form several combinations. Consider these combinations and examples of social sanctions.

Formal positive - public approval from official organizations (awards, titles, prizes, academic degrees, diplomas).
Informal positive - public approval expressed in praise, compliment, smile, etc.
Formal negative - punishments prescribed by law (fines, arrest, imprisonment, dismissal, etc.)
Informal negative - remarks, ridicule, complaint, slander, etc.

Effectiveness of sanctions

Positive sanctions have a greater impact than negative ones. At the same time, informal sanctions are more effective than formal ones. For a person, personal relationships, recognition, shame and fear of judgment are greater incentives than fines and rewards.

If in a social group, society, there is agreement on the application of sanctions, they are constant and unchanged and exist for a sufficiently long time, then they are most effective. However, the existence of such a thing as a social sanction is no guarantee of the effectiveness of social control. In many ways, it depends on the characteristics of a particular person and on whether he strives for recognition and security.

People whose behavior is recognized by society or a social group as deviant and unacceptable are subject to sanctions. The type of sanctions applied and the acceptability of their use in a particular situation depend on the nature of the deviation from social norms and on the degree of social and psychological development of the group.