Final answer:
The general process by which societies regulate the behavior of individuals is called social control, aimed at maintaining social order. Social control includes formal methods like laws and sanctions, and informal practices enforced by community norms and morals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Every society tries to regulate the behavior of individuals; this general process is called social control. The purpose of social control is to maintain social order, which refers to the arrangement of practices and behaviors on which society's members base their daily lives. Examples of social control include legal repercussions such as speeding tickets, social sanctions like warnings from authority figures, and community enforcement of moral norms.
According to social disorganization theory, crime is most likely to occur in communities with weak social ties and the absence of social control. This theory suggests that strong community relationships and the presence of social control can prevent crime by reinforcing social norms and values. Social control can be observed in how societies reward conformity to norms and punish or dissuade deviations through various sanctions, which help keep people aligned with societal expectations.