Chapter%207,%20Deviance,%20Conformity%20and%20Social%20Control

1
Chapter 7, Deviance, Conformity and Social Control

• The Role of Context in Defining Deviance
• Deviance The Violation of Norms
• Defining Deviance
• Structural Strain Theory
• Differential Association Theory
• Factors that Shape U.S. and Chinese Systems of
  Social Control

2
The Nature of Deviance

1. Almost any behavior or appearance can qualify as
   deviant under the right circumstances.
2. Conceptions of what is deviant may vary over time
   and place.

3
Deviance Is A Complex Concept

• Definitions of deviance change over time and
  place.
• Not everyone who commits a deviant act is caught
  and not everyone who is punished committed the
  crime.
• Rule makers, rule enforcers and the larger social
  audience affect how behaviors or appearances are
  defined as deviant.

4
Deviance and Society

• Deviance is important to society for two reasons
• Ritual for identifying and exposing wrongdoing,
  determining a punishment, and carrying it out,
  binds together the members of a group.
• Deviance is useful in making necessary changes
  and preparing people for change.

5
Labeling Theory

• For every rule a social group creates, four
  categories of people exist
• Conformists
• Pure deviants
• Secret deviants
• Falsely accused

6
Labeling Theory 2 Assumptions

• Rules are socially constructed.
• Those rules are not enforced uniformly or
  consistently.

7
Structural Strain

• Three factors
• Culturally valued goals defined as legitimate for
  all members of society.
• Norms that specify the legitimate means of
  achieving these goals.
• The actual number of legitimate opportunities
  available to people to achieve the culturally
  valued goals.

8
Responses to Structural Strain

• Conformity
• Innovation
• Ritualism
• Retreatism
• Rebellion

9
Traits of the Chinese Civilization

• Confucian system of ethics - emphasizes order,
  justice, harmony, personal virtue and obligation,
  devotion to family and respect for tradition, age
  and authority.
• System of family responsibility making each
  member responsible for the conduct of other
  family members.

10
Traits of the Chinese Civilization

• Imperial tradition gives rulers supreme authority
  over the lives of the people.
• No regime in China has ever relinquished its
  power with out first resorting to bloodshed.