Question

The ultimate and, no doubt, the oldest means of social control is physical violence... even in the politely operated societies of modern democracies the ultimate argument is violence. No state can exist without a police force or its equivalent in armed might... In any functioning society violence is used economically and as a last resort, with the mere threat of this ultimate violence sufficing for the day-to-day exercise of social control... Where human beings live or work in compact groups, in which they are personally known and to which they are tied by feelings of personal loyalty (the kind that sociologists call primary groups), very potent and simultaneously very subtle mechanisms of control are constantly brought to bear upon the actual or potent deviant... One aspect of social control that ought to be stressed is the fact that it is frequently based on fraudulent claims... A little boy can exercise considerable control over his peer group by having a big brother who, if need be, can be called upon to beat up any opponents. In the absence of such a brother, however it is possible to invent one. It will then be a question of the public-relations talents of the little boy as to whether he will succeed in translating his invention into actual control (Berger 84-90).

Have you ever seen or heard a young child threaten another with “I will tell my elder brother.” 

Can you think of other examples?

Answer 1

Yes, it is very common to hear a young child threaten another with “I will tell my elder brother.” This perfectly illustrates the sociological point that day-to-day social control often relies on the mere threat of force or higher authority, which can sometimes even be a “fraudulent claim” or invention.

Here are other everyday examples that follow the same sociological mechanism:

• “I am telling Mom/Dad!”: A child invoking the ultimate authority of a parent to stop a sibling’s behavior. The actual punishment (violence or grounding) rarely needs to happen; the threat alone exercises social control.
• Exaggerated Connections: A person in a neighborhood dispute claiming, “My uncle is a police inspector,” to intimidate the other party. Similar to the boy inventing a big brother, they are relying on a potentially fraudulent claim to exert control through the threat of state power.
• The Principal’s Office: A teacher warning a noisy classroom, “I will send the next person who speaks to the Principal.” The classroom maintains discipline not because the principal is constantly punishing students, but because the mere threat of that higher authority suffices for day-to-day control.
• Beware of Dog Signs: A homeowner placing a “Beware of Dog” sign on their gate when they do not actually own a dog. The invented threat of physical violence is used economically to deter trespassers.