Sociology Plus
Constraint Definition
Constraint refers to any restraining social influence that compels an individual to adhere to established social norms or expectations. In sociology, particularly within Durkheimian thought, this concept relates to the distinctive social facts and phenomena that sociologists study, which are understood as ways of acting that exert an external limitation upon the individual. While Durkheim acknowledged that these socially constraining forces can be internalised by individuals, his conception crucially maintained that the origin of these constraints is external to the individual.
Durkheimian Perspective
Durkheim used the term to draw attention to the fact that social reality imposes limitations externally on the individual across various dimensions. His focus was on identifying these socially constraining forces as distinct features of social existence, emphasising their external source rather than solely focusing on the act of compliance itself.
Ambiguity in Application
The application of ‘constraint’ within sociological discourse is often criticised for lacking precise differentiation between several related concepts. As noted by Lukes (1973), the term suffers from ambiguity because it fails to clearly distinguish between:
* Legal Authority: The imposition of sanctions resulting from legal rules or customs.
* Procedural Necessity: The requirement to follow certain rules simply to successfully execute an activity, such as the established rules of language.
* Morphological Factors: The influence exerted by established channels of communication or transportation on economic activities like commerce or migration.
* Psychological Compulsions: Internal pressures arising within a crowd or during social movements.
* Socialisation: The broader determination and influence exerted through the process of socialisation.
Significance
Ultimately, Durkheim’s intention in employing ‘constraint’ was to highlight that distinctively social reality imposes limitations on individuals in all these aforementioned senses, underscoring the pervasive external nature of social regulation.