Final answer:
Social facts are coercive because they consist of norms that exert control over individuals, who are rewarded or punished through sanctions to conform to societal norms. Sanctions, which can be formal or informal, function as a means of social control, ensuring conformity and deterring deviance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social facts are coercive in that they consist of norms, values, and structures external to the individual that exert control over them. When individuals conform to these norms, they are often rewarded, reinforcing their behavior. For example, receiving a smile and a "thank you" for helping someone or a bonus at work for good performance are forms of positive sanctions. However, negative sanctions occur when norms are violated. A person who is arrested for shoplifting is experiencing a negative sanction meant to discourage such behavior.
Sanctions are a way to encourage conformity to cultural norms and come in various forms, including formal sanctions like legal repercussions and informal sanctions like social reactions. Formal sanctions are official measures to recognize and enforce norm violations, such as expulsion from school or being fired. In contrast, informal sanctions may arise in social interactions without any written rules, such as receiving disapproving looks or comments for wearing inappropriate attire to a certain event.
The coercive nature of social facts is evident in the expectancy of society that individuals will abide by norms and the implementation of sanctions to correct and prevent deviant behavior. This system of sanctions acts as a mechanism of social control, ensuring that societal values are upheld and deviance is deterred, therefore maintaining social order and stability.