Deviance and Social Control Conformity and deviance are two ways in which people respond to real or imagined pressures from others. In this chapter, we examine the relationship between conformity, deviance, and mechanisms of social control. A society uses social control to bring about acceptance of basic norms. Stanley Milgram defined conformity as going along with ones peers; obedience is defined as compliance with higher authorities in a hierarchical structure. Some norms are so important to a society they are formalized into laws. Socialization is a primary source of conforming and obedient behavior, including obedience to law. Deviant behavior violates social norms. Some forms of deviance carry a negative social stigma, while other forms are more or less accepted. From a functionalist point of view, deviance and its consequences help to define the limits of proper behavior. Interactionists maintain that we learn criminal behavior from interactions with others (cultural transmission). They also stress that for crime to occur, there has to be a convergence of motivated offenders and suitable targets of crime (routine activities theory). The theory of differential association holds that deviance results from exposure to attitudes favorable to criminal acts. An important aspect of labeling theory is the recognition that some people are viewed as deviant while others engaged in the same behavior are not. The conflict perspective views laws and punishments as reflecting the interests of the powerful. The feminist perspective emphasizes that cultural attitudes and differential economic relationships help explain differences in deviance and crime between the genders. Crime represents a deviation from formal social norms administered by the state. Sociologists differentiate among professional crime, organized crime, white-collar crime, and victimless crimes (such as drug use and prostitution). Crime statistics are among the least reliable social data, partly because so many crimes are not reported to law enforcement agencies. Rates of violent crime are higher in the United States than in other Western societies, although the difference is lessening. Many nations have the death penalty, but not all of them use it. Sociologists debate the deterrence effect of capital punishment and the social inequality in its use.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 05:12:18 +0000
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