The two primary ways of societal control are law and social pressure.
Social pressure functions as moral norms, restricting behavior by conformity or compliance for inclusion.
Generally, norms are better for governance than laws, which must be parsed and ponderously enforced in cold, bureaucratic processes. However, public outcry can overcome sober traditions or common sense wisdom, shifting into hysterical punishment through exclusion and reputational attacks as mob mentality infects once sane citizens.
This is when the law’s ponderous methodology performs its role: to slow down the fickle mob, doling out justice at a glacial pace.
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