Social sanction is what? Types, examples

The word "sanctions" is now widely heard, 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 pose a dead end. Who is imposing sanctions in this case?

The concept of sanctions

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

Social control and social sanctions

The stability of the social system, the safety 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.

The society and the surrounding people ask the individual rules of social behavior and carry out social control, monitoring the observance of social behavior. Social control in its essence is the subordination of a person to a social group, to a society, it implies adherence to social norms. Control is exercised through coercion, public opinion, social institutions, pressure of the group.

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

External social control

External control is a combination of mechanisms and institutions that control people's activities and ensure compliance with social norms. It is divided into formal and informal. Formal control is a positive or negative reaction from the authorities. 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 fixed in official form and is not effective in a large group.

External control may include isolation (detention in prison), isolation (incomplete isolation, maintenance in the colony, hospital), rehabilitation (help in returning to normal life).

Internal social control

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

Social norms

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

Social norms are not documented, and are often unwritten rules. The signs of social norms include:

1. General validity . It is distributed to a group or to a society as a whole, but it can not only apply to one or more members of the group.
2. The possibility of application by the group or society of approval, censure, awards, punishments, sanctions.
3. Presence of the subjective side. The individual himself decides whether or not to accept the social norms of the group or society.
4. Interdependence . All norms are interrelated and interdependent. Social norms can contradict each other, and this creates a personal and social conflict.
5. Scale . On the scale of norms are divided into social and group.

Types of social norms

Social norms are divided into:

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

Types of social sanctions

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

• A negative social sanction is a punishment for undesirable actions. It is directed against a person who has departed from accepted social norms.
• Positive sanctions - encouragement for actions approved by the society, aimed at supporting the individual following the norms.
• Formal social sanctions - come from official, public, state bodies.
• Informal sanctions are a 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 by official organizations (awards, titles, awards, degrees, letters).
• Informal positive - public approval, expressed in praise, compliment, smile, etc.
• Formal negative - punishments provided 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 the most effective, in comparison with formal sanctions. For a person, personal relationships, recognition, shame and fear of condemnation are more incentives than fines and rewards.

If in a social group, society, there is agreement on the application of sanctions, they are permanent and unchanged and exist for a fairly long time, then they are most effective. However, the existence of such a thing as a social sanction is not a guarantee of the effectiveness of social control. In many ways, it depends on the characteristics of a particular person and on whether it seeks recognition and security.

Sanctions are faced by people whose behavior is recognized by society or a social group as deviating from norms and unacceptable. 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.