What term describes the ways that societies establish norms and rules to control behavior?

The term that describes the ways societies establish norms and rules to control behavior is social control. This concept encompasses the mechanisms, strategies, and processes that societies use to regulate individual behavior and maintain social order. Social control can manifest in various forms, including laws, social norms, and informal sanctions, all of which work to promote conformity and discourage deviance.

For example, legal systems represent formal social control, while peer pressure and community expectations are examples of informal social control. By reinforcing acceptable behavior and discouraging unacceptable behavior, social control plays a critical role in functioning societies.

Other terms, while related, do not capture this specific aspect of societal regulation. Socialization refers to the process through which individuals learn and internalize the values and norms of their culture but does not directly address the enforcement of those norms. Cultural relativism is an approach that recognizes and respects cultural differences without making judgments based on one culture's standards. Behavioral expectations are linked to social norms but do not encompass the broader mechanisms of regulation implied by social control.