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control, for example, law and the state. In a modern society formal mechanisms and
agencies of social control are emphasised.

INFORMAL MEANS

In every society there is another type of social control that is known as informal social
control. It is personal, unofficial and uncodified. They include smiles, making faces, body
language, frowns, criticism, ridicule, laughter etc. There can be great variations in their
use within the same society. In day- to-day life they are quite effective. However, in
some cases informal methods of social control may not be adequate in enforcing
conformity or obedience.

There are various agencies of informal social control such as family, religion, kinship, etc.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL CONTROL
Social control can be both positive and negative through sanctions. A sanction is a
mode of reward or punishment that reinforces socially expected forms of behaviour.
Members of societies can be rewarded for good and expected behaviour. On the other
hand, negative sanctions are also used to enforce rules and to restrain deviance.

DEVIANCE
Deviance refers to modes of action, which do not conform to the norms or values held
by most of the members of a group or society. What is regarded as „deviant‟ is as widely
variable as the norms and values that distinguish different cultures and subcultures.
Likewise, ideas of deviance are challenged and change from one period to another.

For example, a woman choosing to become an astronaut may be considered deviant at
one time, and be applauded at another time even in the same society.