Social control imposed by a person or organisation (such as a teacher or a police officer) who has the authority to implement rules or laws is called?

• A. Peer pressure
• B. Informal social control
• C. Formal social control
• D. Hidden curriculum

Answer: (C)

Formal social control is when rules are enforced by official authorities who have the power to apply sanctions. Police, courts, and teachers are examples, and they can impose penalties like fines, detention, imprisonment, or expulsion when rules are broken. This differs from informal social control, which relies on everyday pressure from peers, family, and community without official punishment. The hidden curriculum covers the implicit lessons about norms learned in school, not the formal enforcement of rules. So the description best describes formal social control.