Sanctions

Most norms are followed automatically, but some are motivated by… Sanctions – –rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms

Four types of sanctions Positive Sanctions – sanctions in the form of a reward Examples: praise from parents good grades in class pay raises cheers from a crowd ceremonies ribbons Badges awards

Four types of sanctions Negative Sanctions – sanctions in the form of a punishment or threat of punishment Examples: possibility of having car towed frowns ridicule rejection fines imprisonment death

** If a person is never rewarded for good behavior or punished for bad behavior, then sanctions become meaningless. They lose their power to encourage or enforce conformity. **

Four types of sanctions Formal Sanctions – rewards or punishments that are given by some formal organization or regulatory body, such as government, the police, a corporation or a school Examples: low grades suspension from school termination from job fines imprisonment graduation certificates pay raises promotions awards medals

Four types of sanctions Informal Sanctions – spontaneous expressions of approval or disapproval given by an individual or individuals Examples: standing ovations compliments smiles pats on the back gifts frowns gossip insults ridicule ostracism

Social Control – –Enforcing the norms through either internalization or sanctions. – –Social control in most societies is based on self-control, which is an internalization of norms. – –No society can survive for long without an effective system of social control