What term refers to social control that is enacted casually by individuals in everyday life?

The term that refers to social control enacted casually by individuals in everyday life is informal social control. This concept encompasses the unwritten rules and expectations within a community or social group that guide behavior. These norms are maintained through everyday interactions, such as social approval or disapproval, rather than through formal mechanisms like laws or regulations. For example, if someone behaves in a way that is considered inappropriate in a social setting, peers may express discontent or avoid interaction, thereby influencing behavior without the need for formal authority.

In contrast, legal social control involves institutions and systems, like laws enforced by the government, while formal social control pertains more to structured and organized measures taken by authorities to enforce norms and rules. Peer social control may be seen as a subset of informal control, specifically the influence that peers can exert over each other, but the broader category encompassing everyday social interactions is informal social control. This understanding emphasizes the subtle yet powerful ways societies maintain consensus and cohesion among their members.