How has social control changed over time?

Question

How has both Formal and informal social control changed over time in relation to crime and deviance.

Do both forms of social controls vary from group to group and society to society and if so, in what way?

Answer 1

Formal control has changed by laws changing.

Informal control has changed by "mores" and social pressure ie religion, and other forms of "you shouldn't act like that" because ie "boys don't cry" etc

Answer 2

I think it's been handed over by the church to the government

Answer 3

First, I'll second Lemonade's comment, and would enlarge on it simply to observe that social control has evolved from the top-down authoritative model to a more diffuse, but no less effective method of bottom-up constraints imposed by one's own family, neighbors and agents of school, community and legal system.

We benefit with a flexible form adaptable to new people and conditions, rather than a prescribed, inflexible rule meant only for conformity and control.