18 Questions
What is the main difference between conformity and deviance?
Conformity involves following cultural norms, while deviance involves violating them.
Which type of social control regulates and controls behavior directly through primary social groups?
Direct social control
In the context of social control, what does the term 'labelling theory' refer to?
How society regulates and controls behavior through labeling individuals as deviant or not.
According to the Strain Theory by Robert Merton, why does deviant behavior occur?
When individuals lack culturally approved means to achieve success
Which of the following is an example of direct social control?
A family encouraging a child to attend school regularly.
How do laws contribute to social control?
By imposing punishment on violators of formal codes of conduct
How does society ensure that norms and conventions are safeguarded and preserved?
Through mechanisms of social control
What is one way society reinforces norms and punishes deviants?
By gossiping and spreading rumors about deviants
Which of the following best describes deviance in a society?
Deviance is determined by the members of society.
Who are recognized as the agents of coercion in society?
Those who exercise authority and apply sanctions
How do Richard Cloward & Lloyd Ohlin expand on the Strain Theory?
By emphasizing that criminal deviance can result from a lack of culturally approved means
Why does legality not equate to morality according to the provided text?
Because laws may not always align with what is considered morally right
What is the main focus of the Social Conflict Approach at a macro-level?
Analyzing inequality between different social classes
What are the types of conflict analysis under the Social Conflict Approach?
Class Conflict and Gender Conflict
What is the key concept of social structure as per the text?
Patterns of social behavior meant to meet social functions
Which theoretical perspective views society as composed of different social groups struggling over scarce resources?
Conflict Perspective
What are latent functions according to the text?
Unintended or unrecognized consequences of a social pattern
Who are some of the key theorists associated with the Social Conflict Approach?
Karl Marx and W.E.B. Du Bois
Study Notes
Socialization and Conformity
- Conformity refers to obedience of norms, making a person acceptable to a particular society, group, or setting.
- It involves acceptance of cultural goals and the legitimate ways and means of achieving them.
- Deviance refers to the recognized violation of cultural norms, such as crime, which is a violation of a society’s formally enacted criminal law.
Social Control
- Social control refers to attempts by society to regulate people’s thoughts and behaviors.
- It aims to ensure that norms and conventions are safeguarded and preserved.
- Types of social control include:
- Direct social control: regulates and controls behavior directly through primary social groups, such as family, neighborhood, and play-groups.
- Indirect social control: regulates and controls behavior indirectly through secondary groups, customs, traditions, rationalized behavior, and public opinion.
Mechanisms of Social Control
- Labelling theory: members of society label others as deviant or not, leading to negative treatment and social exclusion.
- Gossip: used in small-scale communities to shame deviants and reinforce norms.
- Laws: formal codes of conduct that are met with negative sanctions when violated.
Deviance and Strain Theory
- Strain theory, advanced by Robert Merton, states that deviant behavior occurs when people experience strain or tension between cultural goals and the lack of legitimate means to achieve them.
- Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin expanded the study to include the availability of unconventional means to achieve success.
Social Structure and Function
- Approach to society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
- Social structure refers to relatively stable patterns of social behavior that meet social functions.
- Social functions include:
- Manifest function: intended or obvious consequences of social patterns.
- Latent function: unintended or unrecognized consequences of social patterns.
Social Conflict Approach
- Society is viewed as an arena of inequality between different classes based on their relationship to the means of production.
- Social groups struggle over scarce resources, leading to conflict and change.
- Types of conflict analysis include:
- Class conflict: studies conflict among different social classes.
- Gender conflict: studies conflict between different gender groups.
Test your knowledge on social conformity and deviance, including the concepts of obedience to norms, acceptance of cultural goals, and violation of cultural norms. Explore the differences between conformity and deviance in society.
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