Lesson 5: Conformity, Deviance, Social Control

Lesson 5
Conformity, Deviance,
Social Control
Conformity
• Occurs when members choose the course of action that the

majority favors.
Common reasons why people conform
• To gain acceptance from the other group members.

• To achieve goals that the group intends to reach.
• To achieve personal goals that they can reach through group
membership.
Common reasons why people conform
• To enjoy taking part in group activities.

• To ensure the group’s continuation.
Sociological Theories of conformity
1. Social Comparison Theory.

2. Cognitive Dissonance Theory.
3. Reactance Theory
Social Comparison Theory
• People conform as a result of psychological needs to evaluate

themselves.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
• It posits that people are not so much influenced by a need to

be correct as they are influenced by a need to be consistent.
Reactance Theory
• Claimed that people need to feel as if they have freedom to

control their behavior.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance
• Refers to the violation of norm.

Deviance in varied perspective
Statistical definition- Statistical minority represents

deviance.
Absolutist definition- Deviance is defined as in terms of
violation of tradition or customs.
• Reactivist Definition- Deviance is a result of a reaction or
label of a social audience.
• Normative definition- Deviant is a result from group’s notion
of actions and conditions that should and should not occur.
Theories of Deviance
1. The functionalist perspective

A. Emile Dukheim’s Strain theory and the Anomie.
B. Robert K.Merton’s Typology of Deviant Behavior.
C. Travi’s Hirschi’s Control Theory
2. Symbolic Interactionism Perspective

A. Labelling Theory
B. Differential Association Theory
C. Social Disorganization Theory
3. Conflict Perspective
A. William Chambliss’s The Saints and the Roughnecks
B. White-Collar Versus Blue-Collar Crimes
The functionalist perspective
• The functionalist viewed deviance to have both positive and

negative effects.
Positive Effects of Deviance
1. It clarifies social norms.

2. It increases unity within a social group.
3. It promotes needed social change.
Negative Effects of Deviance
1. It erodes trust.
2. If not punish or corrected, Deviance can lead to
nonconforming behaviors of others.
3. It diverts resources, both human and monetary.
The functionalist perspective
A. Emile Dukheim’s Strain theory and the Anomie

 To Durkheim, the strength and the smooth working order
of some societies may be attributed to their collective
conscience or the totality of beliefs and sentiments common
to average members of the same society
 Structural strain is brought about by a more complicated
division of labor.
Anomie is the state of normlessness.
Egoism occurs when people are not well integrated into
society.
B. Robert Merton's Typology of Deviant
Behavior.
• Merton explained that anomie happens when the norms of a
society does not match the current social structure.
Merton’s Typology
Adaption to Anomie Culture Social Structure Examples
Conformity Accept Accept Business Executives
Innovation Accept Reject Corrupt Gov’t.

officials,
Ritualism Reject Accept Religious fanatic
Retreatism Reject Reject Drug Addicts
Rebellion Rejects old, Rejects old, Armed Rebel Group

Substitute New Substitute New
C. Travi’s Hirschi’s Control Theory
• Social control is directly affected by the strength of social

bonds.
• People control themselves from doing deviant act because
they do not want to lose ties with their families.
4 types of social bonds
1. Attachment- measures our connection to others.
2. Commitment-refers to the investment we make in
conforming to conventional behavior.
3. Involvement- participation in socially legitimate activities.
4. Belief- conformity to the norms and common values of the
society.
Symbolic Interactionism Perspective
A. Labelling Theory
This hypothetical case shows that if society treat people as
deviant and cut off their opportunities to be anything other
than deviant, it increases the chances that they will live their
lives as a deviant.
B. Differential Association Theory
This theory emphasizes the role of primary groups in the

transition of deviance.
C. Social Disorganization Theory
• This theory asserts that crime is most likely to occur in

communities with weak social ties and absence of social
control.
Conflict Perspective
• The conflict perspective hold on to Marxist perspective on

the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
The Saint and the Roughnecks
(William Champbliss)
• Saints are the group of deviant from upper middle class
families.
• Roughnecks are the lower class deviant who lived in a
depressed community.
White- Collar Vs. Blue-Collar Crimes
White collar crimes are committed by the people of high
social positions.
Ex. Corruption, Bribery
Blue collar crimes are committed by the lower classes of
people in the society.
Ex. Murder, Robbery
Social Control
• It is the sum of all the methods by which a society tries to

influence human behavior to maintain a given order.
Purposes of social Control
1. It helps in re-establishing the Old Social System.

2. It promotes obedience to social decisions.
3. It regulates social behavior and establishes social unity.
4. It brings conformity in society.
Types of Social Control
A. Informal Social Control- the primary institutions exercise
this type of social control.
B. Formal Social Control- This type of social control is
exercised by known and deliberate agencies that exercise
legal authority.
People accept this form of social control because of the
kind of sanctions attached.

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Lesson 5

• Occurs when members choose the course of action that the

• To gain acceptance from the other group members.

• To enjoy taking part in group activities.

1. Social Comparison Theory.

• People conform as a result of psychological needs to evaluate

• It posits that people are not so much influenced by a need to

• Claimed that people need to feel as if they have freedom to

• Refers to the violation of norm.

Statistical definition- Statistical minority represents

1. The functionalist perspective

2. Symbolic Interactionism Perspective

• The functionalist viewed deviance to have both positive and

1. It clarifies social norms.

A. Emile Dukheim’s Strain theory and the Anomie

Conformity Accept Accept Business Executives

Innovation Accept Reject Corrupt Gov’t.

Retreatism Reject Reject Drug Addicts

Rebellion Rejects old, Rejects old, Armed Rebel Group

• Social control is directly affected by the strength of social

This theory emphasizes the role of primary groups in the

• This theory asserts that crime is most likely to occur in

• The conflict perspective hold on to Marxist perspective on

• It is the sum of all the methods by which a society tries to

1. It helps in re-establishing the Old Social System.

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