Types of social sanctions are positive. Informal negative sanctions: examples

SOCIOLOGY: HISTORY, FOUNDATIONS, INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN RUSSIA

Chapter 4
TYPES AND FORMS OF RELATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SYSTEM

4.2. social control

Social control, what is it? How does social control relate to social bonding? In order to understand this, let's ask ourselves a series of questions. Why do acquaintances bow and smile at each other when they meet, send greeting cards for the holidays? Why do parents send their children to school when they reach a certain age, and why don't people go to work barefoot? A number of similar questions could go on and on. All of them can be formulated as follows. Why do people perform their functions in the same way every day, and why do some functions even pass from generation to generation?

Thanks to this repetition, the continuity and stability of the development of social life is ensured. It makes it possible to anticipate people's reactions to your behavior in advance, this contributes to the mutual adaptation of people to each other, since everyone already knows what he can expect from the other. For example, a driver sitting behind the wheel of a car knows that oncoming cars will keep to the right, and if someone drives towards him and crashes into his car, then he can be punished for this.

Each group develops a number of methods of persuasion, prescriptions and prohibitions, a system of coercion and pressure (up to physical), a system of expression that allow the behavior of individuals and groups to be brought in line with accepted patterns of activity. This system is called the social control system. Briefly, it can be formulated as follows: social control is a mechanism of self-regulation in social systems, which is carried out due to the normative (legal, moral, etc.) regulation of the behavior of individuals.

In this regard, social control also performs the corresponding functions, with the help of which the necessary conditions are created for the stability of the social system, it contributes to the preservation of social stability, as well as, at the same time, positive changes in the social system. Therefore, social control requires greater flexibility and the ability to correctly assess the various deviations from the social norms of activity that take place in society in order to punish accordingly the deviations that are harmful to society, and to encourage those necessary for its further development.

The implementation of social control begins in the process of socialization, at which time the individual begins to assimilate social norms and values corresponding to the level of development of society, he develops self-control, and he takes on various social roles that impose on him the need to fulfill role requirements and expectations.

The main elements of the social control system: habit, custom and system of sanctions.

Habit- this is a stable way of behaving in certain situations, in some cases taking on the character of a need for the individual, which does not meet with a negative reaction from the group.

Each individual may have his own habits, for example, getting up early, doing exercises in the morning, wearing a certain style of clothing, etc. There are habits that are common to the entire group. Habits can develop spontaneously, be the product of purposeful upbringing. Over time, many habits develop into stable traits of the individual's character and are carried out automatically. Habits also arise from the acquisition of skills and are established by tradition. Some habits are nothing but survivals of old rites and celebrations.

Usually breaking habits does not lead to negative sanctions. If the behavior of the individual corresponds to the habits accepted in the group, then it meets with recognition.

Custom is a stereotyped form of social regulation of behavior, adopted from the past, which meets certain moral assessments of the group and the violation of which leads to negative sanctions. The custom is directly related to a certain coercion for the recognition of values or coercion in a certain situation.

Often the concept of "custom" is used as a synonym for the concepts of "tradition" and "ritual". By custom is meant the steady adherence to the prescriptions that came from the past, and custom, unlike traditions, does not function in all areas of social life. The difference between a custom and a ritual is not only that it symbolizes certain social relations, but also acts as a means used for the practical transformation and use of various objects.

For example, the custom is to respect honorable people, to give way to old and helpless people, to treat people in a high position in a group according to etiquette, etc. Thus, a custom is a system of values recognized by a group, certain situations in which these values can take place, and standards of behavior corresponding to these values. Disrespect for customs, their non-fulfillment undermines the internal cohesion of the group, since these values have a certain importance for the group. The group, using coercion, induces its individual members in certain situations to comply with the standards of behavior corresponding to its values.

In pre-capitalist society, custom was the main social regulator of public life. But custom performs not only the functions of social control, it maintains and strengthens intra-group cohesion, it helps to transmit social and

cultural experience of mankind from generation to generation, I.e. acts as a means of socialization of the younger generation.

Customs include religious rites, civil holidays, production skills, etc. At present, the role of the main social regulator in modern societies is no longer performed by customs, but by social institutions. Customs in a “pure” form have been preserved even in the sphere of everyday life, morality, civil rituals and in various kinds of conditional rules - conventions (for example, traffic rules). Depending on the system of social relations in which they are located, customs are divided into progressive and reactionary, obsolete. A struggle is being waged against outdated customs in developed countries, and new progressive civil rites and customs are being established.

social sanctions. Sanctions are operational measures and means developed by a group, necessary to control the behavior of its members, the purpose of which is to ensure internal unity and the continuity of social life, stimulating desirable behavior for this and punishing undesirable behavior of members of the group.

Sanctions can be negative(punishment for unwanted actions) and positive(encouragement for desirable, socially approved actions). Social sanctions are an important element of social regulation. Their meaning lies in the fact that they act as an external stimulus that encourages an individual to a certain behavior or a certain attitude towards the action being performed.

There are sanctions formal and informal. Formal sanctions - it is the reaction of formal institutions to some kind of behavior or action in accordance with a predetermined (in a law, charter, regulation) procedure.

Informal (diffuse) sanctions are already a spontaneous, emotionally colored reaction of informal institutions, public opinion, a group of friends, colleagues, neighbors, i.e. immediate environment to behavior that deviates from social expectations.

Since an individual is at the same time a member of different groups and institutions, the same sanctions can reinforce or weaken the action of others.

According to the method of internal pressure, the following sanctions are distinguished:

- legal sanctions - it is a system of punishments and rewards developed and provided for by law;

- ethical sanctions - it is a system of censures, reprimands and motives based on moral principles;

- satirical sanctions - it is a system of all sorts of ridicule, mockery applied to those who behave differently than is customary;

- religious sanctions- these are punishments or rewards established by the system of dogmas and beliefs of a certain religion, depending on whether the individual's behavior violates or corresponds to the prescriptions and prohibitions of this religion [see: 312. p.115].

Moral sanctions are implemented directly by the social group itself through various forms of behavior and attitudes towards the individual, and legal, political, economic sanctions- through the activities of various social institutions, even specially created for this purpose (judicial-investigative, etc.).

In civilized societies, the following types of sanctions are most common:

Negative informal sanctions - this can be an expression of displeasure, grief on the face, termination of friendships, refusal to shake hands, various gossip, etc. The listed sanctions are important, since they are followed by important social consequences (deprivation of respect, certain benefits, etc.).

Negative formal sanctions are all kinds of punishments that are prescribed by law (fines, arrests, imprisonment, confiscation of property, death sentence, etc.). These punishments act as a threat, intimidation and, at the same time, they warn what awaits an individual for committing antisocial acts.

Informal positive sanctions are the reaction of the immediate environment to positive behavior; which corresponds to the standards of behavior and value systems of the group, expressed in the form of encouragement and recognition (expression of respect, praise and flattering reviews

in oral conversation and in print, benevolent gossip, etc.).

Formal positive sanctions are the reaction of formal institutions, carried out by people specially selected for this purpose, to positive behavior (public approval from the authorities, awarding orders and medals, monetary rewards, erection of monuments, etc.).

In the XX century. the interest of researchers in studying the unintended or hidden (latent) consequences of the application of social sanctions has increased. This is due to the fact that tougher punishment can lead to the opposite results, for example, the fear of risk can lead to a decrease in the activity of the individual and the spread of conformity, and the fear of being punished for a relatively minor offense can push a person to commit a more serious crime, hoping to avoid exposure. The effectiveness of certain social sanctions should be determined concretely historically, in connection with a certain socio-economic system, place, time and situation. The study of social sanctions is necessary to identify the consequences and for application both for society and for the individual.

Each group develops a specific system supervision.

Supervision - it is a system of formal and informal ways of detecting undesirable acts and behavior. Also, supervision is one of the forms of activity of various state bodies to ensure the rule of law.

For example, in our country, prosecutorial supervision and judicial supervision are currently distinguished. Under the prosecutor's supervision means the supervision of the prosecutor's office over the precise and uniform execution of laws by all ministries, departments, enterprises, institutions and other public organizations, officials and citizens. And judicial supervision is the procedural activity of the courts to verify the validity and legality of the sentences, decisions, rulings and rulings of the courts.

In 1882 police supervision was legally established in Russia. It was an administrative measure used in the fight against the liberation movement from the beginning of the 19th century. Police supervision could be open or covert, temporary or lifelong. For example, a supervised person did not have the right to change his place of residence, to be in the state and public service, etc.

But supervision is not only a system of police institutions, investigative agencies, etc., it also includes everyday observation of the actions of an individual from the side of his social environment. Thus, the informal system of supervision is a constant assessment of behavior carried out by some members of the group after others, moreover, a mutual assessment, which the individual must reckon with in his behavior. Informal supervision plays a large role in the regulation of daily behavior in daily contacts, in the performance of professional work, and so on.

A system of control based on a system of various institutions ensures that social contacts, interactions and relationships take place within the limits set by the group. These limits are not always too rigid and allow individual “interpretation”.

Sociology of personality

Since ancient times, the honor and dignity of the family have been highly valued because the family is the main cell of society and society is obliged to take care of it in the first place. If a man can protect the honor and life of his household, his status rises. If he cannot, he loses his status. In a traditional society, a man who is able to protect the family automatically becomes its head. Wife, children play second, third roles. There are no disputes about who is more important, smarter, more inventive, therefore families are strong, united in socio-psychological terms. In modern society, a man in a family does not have the opportunity to demonstrate his leading functions. That is why families are currently so unstable and conflicted.

Sanctions- security guards. Social sanctions - an extensive system of rewards for the implementation of norms (conformity), and punishments for deviation from them (ie, deviance). It should be noted that conformity is only an external agreement with the generally accepted. Internally, an individual may harbor disagreement with the norms, but not tell anyone about it. Conformity is the purpose of social control.

There are four types of sanctions:

Formal positive sanctions- public approval by official organizations, documented with signatures and seals. These include, for example, awarding orders, titles, prizes, admission to high positions, etc.

Informal positive sanctions- public approval that does not come from official organizations: a compliment, a smile, fame, applause, etc.

Formal negative sanctions: punishments provided for by laws, instructions, decrees, etc. These are arrest, imprisonment, excommunication, a fine, etc.

Informal negative sanctions- punishments not provided for by laws - mockery, censure, notation, neglect, spreading rumors, feuilleton in the newspaper, slander, etc.

Norms and sanctions are combined into one whole. If a norm lacks an accompanying sanction, then it loses its regulatory function. Say, in the 19th century. in Western Europe, the birth of children in a legal marriage was considered the norm. Illegitimate children were excluded from the inheritance of their parents' property, they could not enter into worthy marriages, they were neglected in everyday communication. Gradually, as society modernized, it excluded sanctions for violation of this norm, and public opinion softened. As a result, the norm ceased to exist.

1.3.2. Types and forms of social control

There are two types of social control:

internal control or self-control;

external control - a set of institutions and mechanisms that guarantee compliance with the rules.

During self-control a person independently regulates his behavior, coordinating it with generally accepted norms. This type of control manifests itself in a sense of guilt, conscience. The fact is that generally accepted holes, rational prescriptions remain in the sphere of consciousness (remember, Z. Freud has the "Super-I"), below which is the sphere of the unconscious, consisting of elemental impulses ("It" by Z. Freud). In the process of socialization, a person has to constantly fight with his subconscious, because self-control is the most important condition for the collective behavior of people. The older a person is, the more self-control he should have. However, its formation may be hindered by cruel external control. The tighter the state takes care of its citizens through the police, courts, security agencies, the army, etc., the weaker self-control. But the weaker the self-control, the tighter the external control must be. Thus, a vicious circle arises, leading to the degradation of individuals as social beings. Example: Russia was overwhelmed by a wave of serious crimes against a person, including murders. Up to 90% of the murders committed only in Primorsky Krai are domestic, i.e., they are committed as a result of drunken quarrels at family festivities, friendly meetings, etc. According to practitioners, the underlying cause of tragedies is powerful control by the state, public organizations , parties, the church, the peasant community, who took care of the Russians very tightly for almost the entire time of the existence of Russian society - from the time of the Moscow principality to the end of the USSR. During perestroika, external pressure began to weaken, and the possibilities of internal control were not enough to maintain stable social relations. As a result, we are seeing an increase in corruption in the ruling class, violations of constitutional rights and individual freedoms. And the population responds to the authorities with an increase in crime, drug addiction, alcoholism, and prostitution.

External control exists in informal and formal varieties.

Informal control is based on the approval or condemnation of relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, public opinion, which is expressed through traditions, customs, or the media. Agents of informal control - family, clan, religion - are important social institutions. Informal control is ineffective in a large group.

formal control based on the approval or condemnation of official authorities and administration. It operates throughout the country, based on written norms - laws, decrees, instructions, resolutions. Its education is carried out by the state, parties, mass media.

Methods of external control, depending on the sanctions applied, are divided into hard, soft, direct, indirect. Example:

television refers to the instruments of soft indirect control;

racket - an instrument of direct strict control;

criminal code - direct soft control;

economic sanctions of the international community - an indirect hard method.

1.3.3. Deviant behavior, essence, types

The basis of the socialization of the individual is the assimilation of norms. Compliance with norms determines the cultural level of society. Deviation from them is called in sociology deviation.

Deviant behavior is relative. What is a deviation for one person or group may be a habit for another. Thus, the upper class considers their behavior as the norm, and the behavior of the lower social groups as a deviation. Therefore, deviant behavior is relative because it is only relevant to the cultural norms of a given group. Extortion, robbery from the standpoint of a criminal are considered normal types of earnings. However, most of the population considers such behavior a deviation.

The forms of deviant behavior include criminality, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, homosexuality, gambling, mental disorder, suicide.

What are the causes of deviation? It is possible to single out reasons of a biopsychic nature: it is believed that a tendency to alcoholism, drug addiction, mental disorders can be transmitted from parents to children. E. Durkheim, R. Merton, neo-Marxists, conflictologists, and culturologists paid great attention to elucidating the factors influencing the appearance and growth of deviation. They were able to identify social causes:

anomie, or disordered society, appears during social crises. Old values disappear, there are no new ones, and people lose their life orientation. The number of suicides, crimes is growing, the family, morality are being destroyed (E. Durkheim - a sociological approach);

anomie, manifested in the gap between the cultural goals of society and socially approved ways to achieve them (R. Merton - a sociological approach);

conflict between cultural norms of social groups (E. Sellin - cultural approach);

identification of an individual with a subculture, the norms of which contradict the norms of the dominant culture (W. Miller - cultural approach);

the desire of influential groups to put the "stigma" of a deviant on members of less influential groups. So, in the 30s in the South of the USA, Negroes were a priori considered rapists only because of their race (G. Becker - the theory of stigmatization);

laws and law enforcement agencies that the ruling classes use against those who are deprived of power (R. Quinney - radical criminology), etc.

Types of deviant behavior. There are many classifications of deviation, but, in our opinion, one of the most interesting is the typology of R. Merton. The author uses his own concept - deviation arises as a result of anomie, a gap between cultural goals and socially approved ways to achieve them.

Merton considers the only type of non-deviant behavior to be conformity - agreement with goals and means to achieve them. He identifies four possible types of deviation:

innovation- implies agreement with the goals of society and the rejection of generally accepted ways to achieve them. The "innovators" include prostitutes, blackmailers, creators of "financial pyramids". But great scientists can also be attributed to them;

ritualism- associated with the denial of the goals of a given society and an absurd exaggeration of the significance of the means to achieve them. So, the bureaucrat demands that each document be carefully filled out, double checked, filed in four copies. But at the same time, the goal is forgotten - but what is all this for?

retreatism(or flight from reality) is expressed in the rejection of both socially approved goals and ways to achieve them. Repeaters include drunkards, drug addicts, homeless people, etc.

riot - denies both goals and methods, but seeks to replace them with new ones. For example, the Bolsheviks sought to destroy capitalism and private property and replace them with socialism and public ownership of the means of production. Rejecting evolution, they strove for revolution, and so on.

Merton's concept is important primarily because it considers conformity and deviation as two bowls of the same scale, and not as separate categories. It also emphasizes that deviation is not the product of an absolutely negative attitude towards generally accepted standards. The thief does not reject the socially approved goal - material well-being, but can strive for it with the same zeal as a young man who is preoccupied with a career. The bureaucrat does not abandon the generally accepted rules of work, but he executes them too literally, reaching the point of absurdity. However, both the thief and the bureaucrat are deviants.

In the process of endowing an individual with the stigma of a “deviant”, one can distinguish between primary and secondary stages. Primary deviation - the initial action of the offense. It is not even always noticed by society, especially if norms-expectations are violated (say, at dinner, not a spoon is used, but a fork). A person is recognized as a deviant as a result of a kind of processing of information about his behavior, carried out by another person, group or organization. Secondary deviation is a process during which, after an act of primary deviation, a person, under the influence of social reaction, takes on a deviant identity, that is, he is rebuilt as a person from the standpoint of the group to which he was assigned. Sociologist I.M. Shur called the process of “getting used to” the image of a deviant by role absorption.

The deviation is much more widespread than the official statistics suggest. Society, in fact, is 99% deviant. Most of them are moderate deviants. But, according to sociologists, 30% of society members are pronounced deviants with a negative or positive deviation. Their control is not symmetrical. Deviations of national heroes, outstanding scientists, artists, athletes, artists, writers, political leaders, leading workers, very healthy and beautiful people are approved to the maximum. The behavior of terrorists, traitors, criminals, cynics, vagabonds, drug addicts, political emigrants, etc. is highly disapproved.

In the old days, society considered undesirable all strongly deviant forms of behavior. Geniuses were persecuted as well as villains, they condemned the very lazy and super-hardworking, the poor and the super-rich. Reason: Sharp deviations from the average norm - positive or negative - threatened to disrupt the stability of a society based on traditions, ancient customs and an inefficient economy. In modern society, with the development of industrial and scientific and technological revolutions, democracy, the market, the formation of a new type of modal personality - a human consumer, positive deviations are considered as an important factor in the development of the economy, political and social life.

Main literature

Personality Theories in American and Western European Psychology. - M., 1996.

Smelzer N. Sociology. - M., 1994.

Sociology / Ed. acad. G. V. Osipova. - M., 1995.

Kravchenko A. I. Sociology. - M., 1999.

additional literature

Abercrombie N., Hill S., Turner S. B. Sociological Dictionary. - M., 1999.

Western sociology. Vocabulary. - M., 1989.

Kravchenko A. I. Sociology. Reader. - Yekaterinburg, 1997.

Kon I. Sociology of personality. M., 1967.

Shibutani T. Social psychology. M., 1967.

Jerry D., Jerry J. Big explanatory sociological dictionary. In 2 vols. M., 1999.

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Formal negative sanctions are one of the tools for maintaining social norms in society.

What is the norm

This term comes from Latin. Literally means "rule of conduct", "sample". We all live in a society, in a community. Everyone has their own values, preferences, interests. All this gives the individual certain rights and freedoms. But we must not forget that people live next to each other. This united collective is called society or society. And it is important to know what laws govern the rules of conduct in it. They are called social norms. Formal negative sanctions make it possible to enforce them.

Types of social norms

Rules of conduct in society are divided into subspecies. It is important to know this, because social sanctions and their application depend on them. They are divided into:

Customs and traditions. Pass from one generation to another for many centuries and even millennia. Weddings, holidays, etc.
Legal. Enshrined in laws and regulations.
Religious. Rules of conduct based on faith. Baptismal ceremonies, religious festivals, fasting, etc.
Aesthetic. Based on a sense of beauty and ugliness.
Political. They regulate the political sphere and everything connected with it.

There are also many other rules. For example, the rules of etiquette, medical standards, safety regulations, etc. But we have listed the main ones. Thus, it is erroneous to assume that social sanctions only apply to the legal sphere. Law is only one of the subcategories of social norms.

Deviant behavior

Naturally, all people in society must live according to generally accepted rules. Otherwise, chaos and anarchy will ensue. But some individuals sometimes cease to obey generally accepted laws. They break them. Such behavior is called deviant or deviant. For this, formal negative sanctions are provided.

Types of sanctions

As it has become clear, they are called upon to restore order in society. But it is a mistake to think that sanctions have a negative connotation. That this is something bad. In politics, this term is positioned as a restrictive tool. There is a wrong concept, meaning a ban, a taboo. One can recall and cite as an example the recent events and the trade war between Western countries and the Russian Federation.

In fact, there are four types:

Formal negative sanctions.
Informal negative.
Formal positive.
Informal positive.

But let's take a closer look at one type.

Formal negative sanctions: examples of application

It was not by chance that they received such a name. They are characterized by the following factors:

Associated with a formal manifestation, in contrast to the informal, which have only an emotional connotation.
They are used only for deviant (deviant) behavior, in contrast to positive ones, which, on the contrary, are designed to encourage an individual for exemplary fulfillment of social norms.

Let's take a concrete example from labor law. Let's say citizen Ivanov is an entrepreneur. Several people work for him. In the course of labor relations, Ivanov violates the terms of the labor contract concluded with employees and delays their wages, arguing this with the crisis phenomena in the economy.

Indeed, sales volumes have declined sharply. The entrepreneur does not have enough money to cover wage arrears to employees. You might think that he is not guilty and can detain money with impunity. But actually it is not.

As an entrepreneur, he had to weigh all the risks in carrying out his activities. Otherwise, he is obliged to warn employees about this and start appropriate procedures. This is provided by law. But instead, Ivanov hoped that everything would work out. The workers, of course, did not suspect anything.

When the day of payment arrives, they find out that there is no money in the cash register. Naturally, their rights are violated in this case (each employee has financial plans for vacation, social security, and possibly certain financial obligations). Workers file a formal complaint with the state labor protection inspectorate. The entrepreneur violated in this case the norms of labor and civil codes. The inspection bodies confirmed this and ordered to pay wages soon. For each day of delay, a certain penalty is now charged in accordance with the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. In addition, the inspection authorities imposed an administrative fine on Ivanov for violations of labor standards. Such actions will be an example of formal negative sanctions.

findings

But an administrative fine is not the only measure. For example, an employee was severely reprimanded for being late to the office. The formality in this case consists in a specific action - entering into a personal file. If the consequences for his lateness were limited only to the fact that the director emotionally, in words, made a remark to him, then this would be an example of informal negative sanctions.

But not only in labor relations they are applied. Mostly negative formal social sanctions prevail in almost all spheres. The exception, of course, is moral and aesthetic norms, rules of etiquette. Their violations are usually followed by informal sanctions. They are emotional. For example, no one will fine a person for not stopping on the highway in forty-degree frost and not taking a mother with a baby as a fellow traveler. Although society may react negatively to this. A flurry of criticism will fall on this citizen, if, of course, this is made public.

But do not forget that many norms in these areas are enshrined in laws and regulations. This means that for their violation it is possible, in addition to informal ones, to receive formal negative sanctions in the form of arrests, fines, reprimands, etc. For example, smoking in public places. This is an aesthetic norm, or rather, a deviation from it. It is ugly to smoke on the street and poison all passers-by with tar. But until recently, only informal sanctions relied on this. For example, a grandmother may be critical of a violator. Today, smoking bans are a legal norm. For its violation, the individual will be punished with a fine. This is a vivid example of the transformation of an aesthetic norm into a legal plane with formal consequences.