Describe what sanctions are and why they are needed.

Most members of society follow norms without conscious thought. However, not everyone internalizes all of society's norms. Some people must be motivated by sanctions. These are rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms. There are positive sanctions, actions that reward a particular kind of behavior, and negative sanctions, punishments or the threats of punishment used to enforce conformity. In addition, there are formal and informal sanctions. Formal sanctions are rewards or punishments given by a formal organization or regulatory agency. Informal sanctions are spontaneous expressions of approval or disapproval given by an individual or a group.