Informal social control refers to the ways in which people casually enforce social norms and expectations through everyday interactions and social sanctions, such as laughter, smiles, ridicule, gossip, and expressions of approval or disapproval. This type of social control operates through interpersonal relationships and social pressure within families, peer groups, communities, and other informal social settings. It relies on the desire for social acceptance and the fear of social ostracism to encourage conformity to social norms. While informal social control may not involve formal punishments like legal sanctions, it can be very effective in shaping individual behaviour and maintaining social order at the micro-level of social interaction. The specific forms and effectiveness of informal social control can vary across different cultures and social groups.