Social order refers to the existing structure and maintenance of organized social life, while social control refers to the mechanisms and processes by which that order is maintained. In essence, social control is how social order is achieved and upheld.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Understanding Social Order
Social order describes the way societies organize and structure themselves. It encompasses established patterns of behavior, agreed-upon norms and values, and the general stability within a group or society. Social order is not static; it evolves and can be challenged. Key aspects of social order include:
- Norms and Values: Shared beliefs and expectations that guide behavior.
- Social Institutions: Organized structures like family, education, and government that provide frameworks for social interaction.
- Social Stratification: Hierarchical arrangements of individuals or groups based on factors like wealth, status, and power.
- Predictability: The ability to anticipate how individuals and groups will behave in certain situations, fostering stability.
Understanding Social Control
Social control consists of the various means and strategies societies use to regulate individuals' thoughts, feelings, appearance, and behavior. It aims to ensure conformity to norms, maintain social stability, and prevent deviance.
- Informal Social Control: This type of control relies on unofficial mechanisms like social pressure, ridicule, gossip, and ostracism. It operates primarily through interpersonal relationships and social interactions within families, peer groups, and communities. An example is a parent scolding a child for misbehaving. The reference states informal control refers to the internalization of norms and values through socialization.
- Formal Social Control: This involves official and institutionalized mechanisms such as laws, regulations, police, courts, and prisons. Formal control is typically applied when informal controls are insufficient to maintain order. For example, arresting someone for theft is a form of formal social control.
Key Differences Summarized
| Feature | Social Order | Social Control |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The existing structure of social life. | Mechanisms for maintaining social order. |
| Focus | The state of organized social life. | The processes that achieve social order. |
| Scope | Broader, encompassing norms, values, institutions. | Narrower, focused on regulating behavior. |
| Relationship | The result of effective social control. | The means to achieve social order. |
In simpler terms, social order is the "what," and social control is the "how." Without social control, maintaining social order becomes exceedingly difficult, and societies risk instability and chaos. Social order is not simply the absence of chaos, but also implies a structured and functional state. Social control, then, is the effort made by society to achieve this structured and functional state.
