Exploring the Social Control and Connection Theme of T-H-B: The Coded Message Trilogy

In T-H-B: The Coded Message Trilogy (Book 1), theprotagonist discovers that almost everyone in the world is controlled and influenced by an elite few via mind manipulation.

What Is Social Control?

Social control is the process by which a group or society regulates individual behavior to maintain order and conformity to social norms. It uses both formal mechanisms like laws and police, and informal mechanisms such as social pressure, customs, and peer influence. The purpose is to prevent deviant or harmful behavior and reinforce social values and beliefs. There are two kind of social control:

Formal Social Control:

• Definition: Uses official, formalized systems and institutions to regulate behavior.
• Mechanisms: Laws, police, courts, and prisons.
• Purpose: To sanction behavior that violates written laws, with sanctions often involving penalties or punishment.

Informal Social Control:

• Definition: Relies on informal social norms, customs, and the expectations of others.
  
• Mechanisms: Family, peers, public opinion, neighborhood, customs, and religious institutions.
  
• Purpose: To influence behavior through non-official means like praise, disapproval, social pressure, or ridicule. 
  

How Can Social Control Be Used Negatively?

Social control can be used negatively when it restricts individual freedom, violates human rights, or leads to psychological and physical violence. This can manifest through mechanisms like public shaming; social ostracism; and discrimination; or more insidiously through the “medicalization” of certain behaviors, which can justify controlling actions like forced medication or surgery by framing them as medical issues.

Examples of negative social control:

• Restricting freedom and rights: Controlling an individual’s ability to choose a partner, pursue an education, work, or practice their sexuality.
  
• Using shame and ridicule: Using public shaming, gossip, or sarcasm to force conformity, as seen in movies where a character is mocked for not fitting in.
  
• Enforcing conformity through fear: Using fear of social exclusion, banishment, or even violence to control behavior.
  
• Formal and informal sanctions: Applying punishments like fines, incarceration, or being fired for not meeting social or professional expectations.
  
• Weaponizing medical concepts: “Medicalizing” behavior can depoliticize issues by framing them as individual medical problems, which can then be used to justify controlling actions like medication or surgery, even if the underlying cause is social or economic.
  

How Is Social Connection Related to Social Control?

Social connection is a core mechanism of social control, as strong relationships encourage individuals to conform to social norms and discourage deviance. When people feel a sense of belonging, they internalize the values of their community, which acts as an internal restraint on harmful behavior. Without these bonds, the risk of crime and social disruption increases. 

Can Social Connection Be Manipulated for Negative Social Control?

Social connection, while often a positive force, can be manipulated for negative social control by fostering environments that encourage conformity, enforce group norms through exclusion, and facilitate surveillance. These mechanisms can suppress individuality and enforce behaviors or beliefs that may be harmful or unjust. 

Negative aspects of social control through social connection include the following:

• Enforcement of Conformity: Strong social ties can create intense pressure to conform to the group’s norms, beliefs, and behaviors. Individuals who deviate may face social sanctions, ostracism, or exclusion, leading them to suppress their own opinions or actions to maintain their connections.
  
• Ostracism and Exclusion: The threat of being cut off from social groups is a potent form of negative control. Fear of loneliness or isolation can compel individuals to comply with group demands, even if those demands are unethical or harmful.
  
• Surveillance and Monitoring: Close-knit communities or social networks often involve high levels of mutual monitoring. People are aware of each other’s activities and can quickly report deviations from expected behavior. This pervasive surveillance can stifle personal freedom and encourage self-censorship.
  
• Manipulation and Coercion: Individuals with significant social influence can use their connections to manipulate or coerce others into actions they would not otherwise take. This can range from subtle pressure to explicit threats, leveraging the value of the relationship for personal gain or control.
  
• Suppression of Dissent: Social groups often prioritize harmony and consensus over critical discussion. Dissenting voices can be quickly marginalized or silenced to maintain group cohesion, preventing healthy debate and the challenge of harmful ideas. 
  

Conclusion Connection is a key component of the informal mechanisms of social control. When an individual has strong social connections (attachment, commitment, involvement, belief), they are more likely to be controlled by social forces. Social connection can be used negatively as the inherent human need to belong can be exploited to limit individual autonomy and enforce rigid adherence to group rules or the will of influential members.al autonomy and enforce rigid adherence to group rules or the will of influential members.