IN MODERN SOCIETY, THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN THE FORMAL CONTROL SYSTEM IS THE POLITICAL STATE WHOSE POWER OF COERCION OPERATES VIA AGENCIES SUCH AS THE POLICE, COURTS, PENAL INSTITUTIONS, LEGISLATURES AND EXECUTIVE BUREAUCRACIES. INFORMAL CONTROL EXISTS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF GROUPS SUCH AS RELIGIOUS, KINSHIP, PEER, OR OCCUPATIONAL. FORMAL AND INFORMAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT EASILY SEPARABLE AND OFTEN OPERATE SIMULTANEOUSLY. WITH THE RISE OF URBANISM AND THE DECLINE OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY, (BOTH WORLDWIDE PHENOMENA) THERE HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT, UNDER STRONG LIBERTARIAN AND ANTITOTALITARIAN PRESSURE, FOR MORE INFORMAL METHODS OF CONTROL. CROSS-CULTURAL EXAMPLES ARE CITED: INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL OF SEXUAL DEVIANCE IN JAPAN; FORMAL CONTROL OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN CHINA BY UTILIZING INFORMAL CONTROL MECHANISMS; INFORMAL WORK ORGANIZATIONS (COMMUNAL OR FACTORY) WHICH USE THE POWERS OF HUMILIATION AND SHAME TO CHECK ALCOHOLISM IN RUSSIA; RIDICULE AND HOSTILE HUMOR IN MEXICO TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY; THE REBIRTH OF INFORMAL VIGILANTE MOVEMENTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY ITALY. IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MOVE TOWARD DECRIMINALIZATION OF MANY ACTIVITIES IS PROGRESSING. THERE IS A VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED RANGE OF SOCIAL ENTITIES, THEREFORE, THAT CAN AND DO EXERCISE INFORMAL CONTROL OVER DEVIANCE, AND THERE IS AN EQUALLY UNLIMITED DIVERSITY IN THE WAYS OF EXERCISING SUCH CONTROL. REFERENCES ARE CITED.