Abstract
In sociology, the concept of social control has undergone various transformations. In contemporary sociology, social control is primarily understood in the context of the enforcement of law and/or the control of crime and deviance. Historically, however, the concept of social control enjoyed a much more expansive meaning. First, social control is an analytical concept (not a specific theory) that can be conceptualized in at least two ways: as a broad concept related to social order; or in a narrow understanding related to crime and/or deviance. This paper, reviews the concept of social control in sociology as well as its implications in empirical research in the social sciences. However, a sustained treatment of social control in a theoretically systematic way will contribute to better formulation of adequate theoretical models of social control which will also add to our study of institutions and practices.