Social Control and Deviance

Rewards Punishment

Social Control

Social Control• Each society has norms that

help society run smoothly• Norms enforced by:

– 1) Internalization• Process by which a norm

becomes a part of an individual’s personality

• You believe a norm is good and appropriate so you abide by norm

• Follow norm because it is right thing to do not because fear of punishment

– 2) Sanctions• Rewards or punishments used

to enforce conformity to norms

Positive vs. Negative Sanctions

Positive Sanctions• actions that rewards a

particular behavior• Ex: star for turning in

homework• Ex: raise to good employees

Negative Sanctions• punishment or the threat of

punishment used to enforce conformity

• Ex: speeding ticket• The more important the

norm to social stability the harsher the negative sanction

• Sanctions can range from frowns to imprisonment

Formal vs. Informal Sanctions

Formal Sanctions

• Reward or punishment given by a formal organization or regulatory agency

• Ex: low grades, suspension• Ex: fired from job• Positive formal sanctions:

diploma, pay raise, medals

Informal Sanctions• Spontaneous expression of

approval or disapproval given by an individual or group

• Positive Example: compliments, smiles, standing ovation

• Negative Example: insults, gossip, ostracism

• Effective amongst teenagers who consider group acceptance important

Do you line jump? Why or why not?

Social Control

• Enforcing norms through internal or external means

• Agents of external enforcement – authority figures, police, courts, family, peer group, public opinion

• Individuals must follow certain rules in order for society to function smoothly

• Society needs effective system of social control to survive

Deviance

Nature of Deviance

• Deviance – behavior that violates significant norms

• Deviance varies from society to society– Ex: divorce illegal in the

Philippines

Labeling Deviants• 2 components:

– 1) must be detected committing deviant act

– 2) person must be stigmatized by society• Stigma = form of social control because

it is a mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from rest of society

• Repeated offenses may lead to receiving the label of deviant– Ex: speeding ticket doesn’t get you a

label of deviant but repeated violations and reckless behavior may

• Someone who commits one act that has series negative consequences may also be labeled a deviant– Ex: murder, sexual assault

Social Functions of Deviance• Emile Durkheim, The Rules of

Sociological Method• It provides jobs in law enforcement• Defines boundaries of acceptable

behavior– Ex: punishment of another is a

warning of consequences for violation

• Draws line between conforming members and ‘outsiders’ – reinforces shared values

• Those unhappy with social conditions can relieve tension without disrupting society – Ex: occupy Wallstreet protester

• Prompt social change by identifying problems – if large numbers violate norm them indication of needed change– Ex: Egypt, Libya

Explaining Deviance: Functionalist• Deviance natural part of society that

serves some positive functions• Believe in Strain Theory – views

deviance as natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society

• Values in society may not meet the means people have to achieve a value– Ex: US we value economic achievement

but what if you don’t have access to this? Creates an anomie

• Anomie – situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear and no longer applicable– Leaves unclear guidelines for behavior

causing confusion for individual and society

Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance• People respond to goals and means of achieving them 5 ways

(Modes of Adaptation)• 1) Conformity- accepts goals and pursues them in approved

ways – most common – only non-deviant response• 2) Innovation – accepts goals but disapproves of ways to achieve

it– Ex: drug dealers – want economic success but does not go about it in

socially acceptable way• 3) Ritualism – abandon goals but follows society’s norms• 4) Retreatism – reject both goals and methods of achieving them

– Ex: addicts, beggars, hermits – drop out of society

5) Rebellion – challenges goals and substitutes new onesEx: Revolutionary leaders

Explaining Deviance: Conflict Perspective

• Believe that competition and social inequality lead to deviance

• People with power commit deviant acts to stay in power

• People without power commit deviant acts to gain power

• Ruling class labels any act that threatens their power as deviant

Explaining Deviance: Interactionist Perspective

• Interaction with others influences deviance• 3 theories to explain deviance:– 1) Control Theory– 2) Cultural Transmission Theory– 3) Labeling/Differential

Control Theory

• Interested in why people conform• Believe social ties determine conformity• People who are integrated into community will conform and

those who have weak ties will likely commit deviant acts• How you develop bond to community – 1) attachments 2)

belief in society’s moral code 3) commitment to society’s values and goals 4) fully involved in non-deviant activity

• New study showed conformity the result of strong self-control – Socialization helps determine one’s level of self-control

• Ex: parents who punish bad behavior and reward good will have more self-control

– Those that lack these more likely to commit deviant act

Cultural Transmission

• Believes Deviance is a behavior learned through interaction with others

• Differential association – if a majority of a person’s interactions are with deviant individuals then the person is likely to be deviant also

Labeling Theory• Focuses on how individuals become

identified as deviant• All individuals commit deviant acts

but not all are labeled deviant• 2 types of Deviance:

– Primary deviance – occasional violation of norms• Society does not view them as deviant

– Secondary deviance – refers to deviance as a lifestyle and results in them being labeled as deviant

VS.

Crime

Who Commits a Crime?• Crime – any act that is labeled by

those in authority and is prohibited by law

• Age –– 53% - 18-34– 28.6% 35-54– 15.5% under 18

• Race – 69.7% white– 28% African American– 2.4% other

Sex76.3% male23.7% female

Types of Crimes• Violent Crime

– Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault

• Property Crime– Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft,

arson

• Victimless Crime– Prostitution, illegal gambling, illegal

drug use

• White-collar Crime– Offenses committed by people of high

social status during professional lives– Fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement,

insider trading

• Organized Crime– Crime syndicate – large-scale

organization of professional criminals that controls some vice or legitimate business through violence

Corrections

• Sanctions used to punish criminals– 1) Retribution –

acceptable revenge– 2) Deterrence –

discourage offenders from committing future crimes

– 3) Rehabilitation – reform criminals

– 4) Social Protections – protect society from additional crimes