Informal Social Control

Informal social control refers to the unofficial ways people influence each other's behavior through social cues, norms, and expectations. It involves peer pressures, family reactions, and community reactions that reinforce what is considered acceptable or unacceptable conduct. Unlike laws and formal rules, informal social control operates subtly, through everyday interactions like praise, criticism, or social approval and disapproval. These mechanisms help maintain social order by encouraging individuals to conform to shared values and standards without the need for formal enforcement.