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Social control is the force that encourages the individual to behave in an approved manner, as this is culturally defined (Dressler, 1973, p. 116). Stated another way, it is the force that inhibits the individual from following his immediate inclination when he realizes that to do so would lead to unfavorable responses from members of society.

When you drive a car you generally behave in an approved manner. You obey traffic signals, stopping at red lights even when you are in a hurry. You pull aside and stop to give an ambulance the right of way. This illustrates the phenomenon of social control. You act under inner control. No external or physical force prevents you from violating the law. You know what is expected of you. You realize what might happen if you fail to come up to expectation--you might cause an accident, or a traffic officer might appear and give you a ticket. You give an ambulance the right of way because you have an idea of the consequences of not doing so. In this sense social control is an internalized control.

Since social control must be internalized in order to function effectively, it has the meaning usually associated with "self-control." However, usually it is a self-control based upon recognition of the social consequences of certain behavior. Punishing a child is not a manifestation of social control. Social control is exemplified in the child who refrains from behaving a certain way because she/he knows that otherwise she/he may be punished.

True, social control will not always be sufficiently influential to prevent individuals form following their inclinations. Despite possible consequences, we may sometimes picnic on grounds posted against trespassing. In such cases our desire to do so will have outweighed fear of the consequences. But most of us follow required and preferred standards of behavior most of the time, even if we are frustrated by doing so, because we realize it would ultimately cost more than it is worth to follow certain inclinations. We accept social control because we are afraid we might be subjected to social disapproval, economic reprisal, or physical punishment if we do not. Social control thus becomes an effective force in maintaining conformity among individuals of every human group, whether a family, a gang of thieves, monks in a monastery, or a squad of soldiers surrounded by a hostile force.

Although there is a strong negative force such as fear or apprehension in regulating behavior, social control has a positive aspect as well. One reason we fear ridicule, contempt, censure, punishment, or lose of face is that we have learned to place great positive value on social approval, security, and physical well-being. The negative force of fear derives from and accompanies the positive force, the desire for social approval and well-being. Moreover, we conform to custom, our society's code of behavior, because we have learned to believe in it and to accept it a right.