Which of the following is an example of formal social control?

• A. Informal social pressure from peers
• B. Social norms judged by peers
• C. Subtle sanctions in everyday life
• D. Formal social control

Answer: (D)

Formal social control relies on official rules and institutions to regulate behavior, such as laws enforced by police and courts, with formal penalties like fines or imprisonment. The best example here is the one that names formal social control itself, because it points to these official mechanisms rather than everyday social influence. The other statements describe informal social control, which operates through peer pressure, shared norms among peers, and subtle sanctions in daily life rather than through codified rules and official sanctions.