Every society devises its own standard of behaviour and exercise upon individuals and groups to maintain order and conformity with the accepted standards of behaviour. It is the controlling and constraining force that brings social harmony and maintains solidarity in the society.

The concept of social control was originally given by E.A.ross who defined it as the system of devices whereby society brings its members into conformity with the accepted standards of behaviour.

Fairchild defines it as 'sum total of the processes whereby society, or any group within the society, secures conformity to expectations on the part, of  its constituent units, individuals and groups.


According to Karl Mannheim, social control is 'the sum of those methods by which society tries to influence human behaviour to maintain a given order.


Ogburn and Nimkoff held the view that ‘social control is the patterns of pressure which a society exerts to maintain order and established rules'


Functions of Social Control:-


1) Conformity:

The primary purpose of social control is to bring about social conformity with the accepted standard of behaviour. Individuals must act within the standard set  by the society and should not cross the limits, of tolerance, the violation of which often attracts criticism and punishment.


2) Social Solidarity:-

The society maintains the device when requires every member of the society, groups, organizations and institutions to be integrated and maintain harmony. All intra-group hostilities should be sorted out and a balanced society should be evolved.


3) Social Continuity:-

Society exerts such a mechanism that every group or organization or institutions, transmit itself through generations and thereby maintain the survival.