Sanctions are methods of ensuring adherence to social standards, as described by sociology. When sanctions are used to reward conformity, they are positive, but when they are used to penalize or discourage nonconformity, they are negative. In any case, punishments and the results they cause are employed to encourage our compliance with social standards.
A person who acts correctly in a particular environment by being courteous, socially engaged, or patient, for example, may be sanctioned with social acceptance. Depending on the context, an individual who chooses to act improperly by speaking out of turn, saying or doing weird or cruel things, or exhibiting rudeness or impatience may face censure, expulsion, or more severe repercussions.
The Relationship Between Sanctions and Social Norms
Expected actions agreed upon by a social group are referred to as social norms. Social norms exist in both society as a whole (such as the use of money as a medium of transaction) and in smaller groupings (like wearing a business suit in a corporate setting). Without social standards, we may live in a chaotic, unstable, unpredictable, and noncooperative environment. In fact, we might not have a civilization without them.
Sanctions are frequently used by societies, communities, and organizations to ensure conformity with their preferred social standards. When a person follows — or does not comply — to societal standards, he or she may face penalties (consequences). Punishment for conformance are generally positive, whereas sanctions for nonconformity are generally negative. To assist influence the way individuals and organizations act, they might be informal punishments such as shunning, humiliation, praises, or prizes.
Internal and External Sanctions
Internal and external sanctions are also possible. Internal penalties are consequences that an individual imposes on himself based on societal standards. As a result of noncompliance and the resulting isolation from social groups, an individual may experience humiliation, shame, or sadness. Consider a youngster who steals a candy bar from a store in order to defy societal conventions and authority. If the youngster isn't detected and doesn't face any consequences, he or she may suffer from guilt. Instead of devouring the candy bar, the youngster returns it and admits to being guilty. This is the result of an internal sanction's work.
External penalties, on the other hand, are punishments imposed by others, such as expulsion from an organization, public humiliation, parental or elder punishment, arrest and incarceration, and so on. If someone breaks into a business and robs it and is detected, they will face an arrest, a criminal charge, a court trial, the possibility of being found guilty, and maybe jail time. After the individual is apprehended, a succession of state-based external consequences are imposed.
Formal and Informal Sanctions
Formal and informal sanctions are also possible. Institutions or organizations use formal mechanisms to impose formal punishments on other institutions, organizations, or persons. They can be legal or based on a formal code of norms and ethics established by an institution. If a country breaks international law, it can be "sanctioned," which means that economic opportunities are denied, assets are frozen, and trade links are terminated. Similarly, a student who plagiarizes a written work or cheats on a test may face academic probation, suspension, or expulsion from school.
To expand on the previous example, a country that refuses to cooperate with a worldwide prohibition on nuclear weapons development will suffer economic repercussions from those that do. As a result of the penalties, the noncompliant country loses money, international prestige, and economic chances. Persons or groups inflict informal punishments on other individuals or groups without using a formal, institutional framework. Forms of informal censure include mocking stares, shunning, boycotts, and other behaviors. Consider a company whose products are manufactured in places where child labor and abusive practices are commonplace. Customers that are offended by this behavior organize a boycott of the company. As a result of the informal censure, the company loses clients, sales, and money.