Social Control

Social Control
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The concept of social control has been used to describe and explain the social and political trends in our society since the beginning of time (LaPiere, 1954). In essence, the concept has referred to the socialization process or how people’s behaviors are harmonized in the initial group affairs and how the small social establishments such as religion, education, law, ideologies and the political systems sustain order in the society. Essentially, the individual behaviors in a society are greatly influenced by two aspects of control. First, internal mechanisms of control such as a person’s sense of what is right and what is wrong reduce the probability that one will swerve from the known social norms (LaPiere, 1954). Secondly, the external mechanisms of control compel individuals to conform to the social norms because the authority dictates so. As such, Marx, Marcuse and Nietzsche view society as defined by forces that seek social control. However, Nodding believes that these accounts are not entirely accurate and goes ahead to dispute the assertions made by these three philosophers. In this regard, this paper seeks to elaborate and analyze Nodding’s assertion and view of the three philosophers’ assertions; why she thinks the view that society is defined by social forces that seek social control is not entirely accurate.
Karl Marx, Marcuse and Nietzsche were all philosophers who focused on explaining the social forces that control the society.

First, according to Marx, social-conflict characterized by capitalism is the main source of social control that is seen in our society (Marx, 1911). In his criticism of the system of capitalism, he brings up a number of social aspects as the reason for the big gap between the lower social class, who in this case are the workers and laborers, and the upper social class who take control of the production in a political economy. The most unlikely social aspect that Marx uses to criticize the political class and also blame for the wide gap between the social classes is religion. In fact, Marx argues that religion has been used by people to justify the injustices and social and economic inequalities in our society by promising rewards in the eternal life (Marx, 1911). As such, religion, as a social force, has been used by the political class to gain social control over the lower classes. In fact, once a person believes in the promises made in the name of religion, he or she is unlikely to rise against the social inequalities on the basis that they will be rewarded in the eternal life.
Secondly, according to Marcuse, “advanced industrial society” results to “false needs” which assimilate people into the available system of consumption and production through the contemporary forms of thoughts such as the media and advertising (Marcuse, 2013). The false needs result in a one-dimensional world of behavior and thought in which skill and ability to critically think and oppose the behaviors are slowly withered away. As a result of this, the individuals in a society become subjects of the state and the thoughts inflicted by the state (Marcuse, 2013). It becomes hard, therefore, for the individuals in the society to oppose the norms leading to the external means of social control being employed to make the people obey the laws. In this regard, the false needs created by the society become the social force that defines a society and seeks social control in our society.
Lastly, according to Nietzsche, morality influences behavior in the society. In his philosophy of Genealogy of Morals, he argues that morality shapes our behavior because of the belief we have that our morals derive from God, tradition and reason (Nietzsche, 2010). As such, a person controls his behavior based on the moral standing he or she is subscribed to. In essence, Nietzsche believes that every behavior is driven by the will of power as well as when people allow themselves to be dominated by a particular interpretation of the values and morals of our society (Nietzsche, 2010). As such, Nietzsche believes morality is another social force that defines the behavior of people in a society.
Despite these assertions by Marx, Nietzsche and Marcuse, Nodding believes that the social forces described by the three philosophers are not the main drivers of behavior in the society. In her theory, she believes the social forces have a part in shaping the behaviors of individuals in a society but must be supported by other factors to fully attain social control in a society. In this regard, Nodding came up with the theory of ethics of care. On her first account, she agrees that morality, as an active virtue, has a bearing on the way people behave and live in a society but it takes two feelings to influence behavior (Noddings, 2013). The first feeling is the feeling of natural care. This is to the effect that when we behave in a certain way, it is out on natural care and not ethics. For instance, when a mother acts on behalf of her child, she is considered natural and not ethical. In essence, human beings often consider natural behaviors to ethical behaviors because we are naturally caring. In fact, when a person acts on behalf of another person, he or she does so out of natural care and not because they are ethical. The second feeling is the feeling of love and memory in the perspective of spiritual love. Love and memories have a bearing on the decisions we make. For instance, when one wants to behave in a certain way, he or she is influenced by the good or bad memories of caring for others and the love they have for other people. As such, when one loves and is controlled by memories, they are likely to have control of their behavior hence attaining social control. Thus, the assertions made by Nietzsche that morality single-handedly influence behavior and, therefore, is a force of social control in the society is incomplete.
On her second account, Nodding talks about ethical ideal as the basis of ethical behavior. However, she distinguishes the ethical ideal and virtue that makes a person behave in a certain way (Noddings, 2013). In fact, the major driving force of behavior is the obligation we feel we have to act or behave in a certain way. For instance, when one acts as a result of natural care towards other people, they feel obligated to those people and thus are driven by the obligation to behave in such a way. In response to religion and the creation of false needs as the social forces behind individuals’ behaviors in a society, Nodding relies on the obligation created by these forces and the love a person has when performing a certain act. For instance, religion does not place an obligation on a person to act in a certain way but is a choice a person makes. Also, not all people of the lower class are blinded by the promises made by religion. In fact, most people comply with the commands and wishes of the political class because of the sanctions that accompany the commands. Their behavior also has much to do with ethical ideals and virtue together with the memories of doing well in the society. In essence, it is the obligation they have that drives their behavior in the society and the love for others in the society. The love comes from the relationship people have in a society, the values they believe in together with the beliefs they have. It is these values, relationships, love, norms and beliefs that influence the behavior of a person and makes him or she have control over his or her actions. In essence, love, memories and obligations are the social forces that influence behavior in a society.
In conclusion, social control theory defines what influences behavior in a society. In short, social control theory states that moral codes and certain internal values tie people into making certain choices and decisions. However, philosophers such as Marx, Marcuse, Nodding and Nietzsche have come up to give light to this theory. In as much as Nodding tries to discredit the assumptions made by Marx, Nietzsche and Marcuse, her ideas and theories are more or less explaining and expounding on what the other theorists have focused on which means that the theories stated or created by the three philosophers are incomplete. For instance, Nietzsche’s idea that morality is the major force of social control has been explained more by Nodding in her ethical ideal theory and “virtue” concept which are all aimed at explaining the influence of a person’s beliefs and values in his or her behavior. As such, the forces of social control are well explained in these theories and the behavior of individuals in a society are greatly influenced these behaviors.
References
LaPiere, R. T. (1954). A theory of Social Control. McGraw-Hill.
Marcuse, H. (2013). One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society. Routledge.
Marx, K. (1911). Critique of Political Economy. CH Kerr@ Company.
Nietzsche, F. (2010). On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo. Vintage.
Noddings, N. (2013). Caring: A Relational Approach to Ethics and Moral Education. Univ of California Press.