Social Deviance
Chapter 2: Deviant Events and Social Control
Chapter Goals
Be able to explain the "context" of deviant behavior Understand deviant events, roles, and places Understand different kinds of sanctions for deviance Know what institutions of social control are
Deviant Events
Deviant events: Refers to behavior but also the context in which behavior occur Context involves: deviant, victim, circumstances, history Deviant roles: Everyone performs a number of social roles in everyday life Some people play roles as deviants Deviant places: A physical location typically connected to deviant acts A deviant act may begin with an interpretation of a situation as an opportunity to commit the act Neighborhoods often become places where deviance is likely to occur as they decay into disorder
Deviant Acts and Victims
Deviant Acts and Victims Deviant act depends not only on the past experiences but also on responses of others in immediate situations The reactions of the social audience help to organize and shape the deviant act Deviant acts and victims Deviant events gain significance because they draw attention to conditions that define deviance rather than the deviants who commit the acts But that context also includes efforts designed to reduce deviance, a process that sociologists refer to as social control
Social Control
Social control may be narrowed down to overt behavior by a human in the belief that: The behavior increases or decreases the probability of some subsequent condition and increase or decrease is desirable Internalization of group norms: norms are learned Process of social control Sanctioning processes a. Sanctions are social reactions to behavior
b. Negative sanctions are punishments c. Positive sanctions are rewards d. Informal sanctions are unofficial actions e. Formal sanctions are criminal punishments
Institutions of Social Control
Specifically considering formal controls Formal sanctions are administered by people who occupy positions or roles within institutions These are agents of social control Agents of social control to determine punishments Institutions of social control can also reward those who comply with norms or exceeds the expectations of the group Rewards may be given through bonuses, raises, awards, and honored positions However, political state agents do not distribute positive sanctions, or rewards, as a way to maintain social control
Institution Religion
Agent Minister, Priest
Deviance sin
Sanction Penance, withholding rites, excommunication Dismissal, suspension, fine
Business
Employer
Absence, laziness, violation of work rules Failure to obey union rules Ethical Violations
Labor union
Shop Steward
Expulsion from union, fine License revocation, expulsion from group Fine, probation, imprisonment, civil suit
Professional Group Officer
Political State
Police, prosecutor, judge
Violations of administrative, civil, or criminal law Violations of club rules Youthful disobedience
Club or Social Organization Family
Officers
Fines, suspension of privileges, expulsion Spanking, "grounding", withholding privileges
Parents
Law as an example of social control
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Law represents: A formal system of social control and conditions of society Two major views of the origins of law
a. Consensus: law emerges to embody and reflect the strong, majority sentiment of the population b. Conflict: law reflects successful act