Social Control, Conformity, and Deviance

UCSP Grade 12

1. Social Control, Conformity,
and Deviance
Salandron, James Harry

2. Social Control and Conformity
According to Crapo (2001),majority of the societies in the world
have created mechanisms by which the social behavior of people is
controlled to maintain order or to re-establish order once rules
have been broken. These mechanismsare collectively called social
control.
When a person violates the behavioral norms of his/her society,
he/she will be subjected to corresponding social sanctions. These
sanctions can be either informal (disapproval, ridicule, gossip or
deprivation) or formal (fine, imprisonment, or death), and will vary,
depending upon the type and degree of violation.
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3. Social Control and Conformity
In earlier discussions, it was pointed out that teaching norms and inculcating values to
persons at an early age can motivate them to conform to social standards and means.
In 1926, Polish anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski argued that rules must be obeyed
for multiple reasons. These include the following:
1. Social rules may be self-enforcing because of their practical utility. Time-tested
rules can make society work efficiently and harmoniously.
2. Violating social rules has corresponding punishments. People who violate norms
often experience ostracism, or one's exclusion from the other members of society. In the
Philippines, gossip, or chismis, is a form of ostracism.
3. Following social rules brings more rewarding interactions with others. An individual
who follows the social standards has more opportunities of establishing connections,
networks, and/or influences.
4. Social rules (especially faith-based ones) are believed to be sacred, thus, violating it
may induce supernatural punishment.
5. Rules are matters of law enforced by the machinery of society.
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4. Social Control and Conformity
However, not all societies rely on punishment alone to
maintain social control. In fact, others provide rewards to
those who strictly conform to rules. Rewards may occur in the
form of praise, promotions, salary increases, and more.
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5. Deviance
In most cases, a person follows the social norms. However, there are
instances when some individuals behave in contrast with what is
expected of them. This nonconforming behavior is called deviance.
Sociologists describe deviance as a violation of established social norms,
whether folkways, mores or laws. Deviance varies among societies in the
world. It depends upon the context of the norm, the condition in the
society, and the people's response to a particular behavior.
To most people, deviance has a negative connotation. But among
sociologists, this is not always the rule. In some cases, deviants have
paved the way for social change. Mathematician, astronomer, and
Catholic cleric Nicolaus Copernicus deviated from the geocentric belief of
the conservatives during his time, paving the way to the birth of
heliocentrism and eventually, of the principle of relativity masterminded
by another deviant genius Albert Einstein.
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6. Deviance
Deviance has five forms, as stated by sociologist Robert Merton (1938).
1. Innovation
This form of deviance refers to the use of unadvised or sometimes illegal
methods to achieve social goals. The tampering of votes by a politician to win
an election and the using of illegal practices by a business executive to gain
profit are examples of innovative deviance. Individuals acquire the social goals,
but fail to internalize the social standards in achieving the said goals.
Another example involved the creator of the phenomenal social networking site
Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. When he was a college sophomore in Harvard
University, Zuckerberg hacked into protected areas of Harvard's computer
network to copy private ID images for Facebook's ancestral site, Facemash. He
was expelled from Harvard for what he had done. However, his act of deviance
somehow eventually led to what Facebook is now.
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7. Deviance
2. Ritualism
From the term itself, ritualists strictly observe the norms set by the society.
However, in trying to conform generally to the social rules. ritualists tend to
forget the primary reason why they are conforming to it-to achieve the social
goals. For example, a worker may be following every rule the company sets but
is still not able to achieve any goal of the company. In trying hard to implement
the means, he/she loses the goals.
3. Conformity
Individuals are following a societal goal through legitimate means. Although a
conformist may not necessarily achieve the societal goal, he has enough faith
in society to follow legitimate means.
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8. Deviance
4. Retreatism
This term of deviance happens when individuals try to escape from
achieving social goals because they cannot fulfill them. Retreatism is the
complete rejection of norms. Drug abusers, alcoholics, and criminally
insane individuals experience this form of deviance.
5.Rebellion
As the root word "rebel" suggests, this form of deviance is usually
observed in minorities promoting change and introducing alternative
values and institutions. As pointed out by Hunt (1982), rebellion occurs
because of the frustration of people over the norms.
Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal were rebels, though the two differed in
exhibiting their deviance to the Spanish norms. On the other hand,
terrorist groups, like Islamic State (IS) and Abu Sayyaf, are also
examples of rebels.
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9. Human Dignity, Rights, and the
Common Good
Most societies value human life. In fact, the primary purpose of creating social
institutions is to serve the common good. Each member of the society is expected to
enjoy the benefits of being a member of a certain group, regardless of age. gender,
political affiliation, and socio-economic status.
In the Philippines alone, this value has been set in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It
was particularly articulated in its Preamble.
We the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a
just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and
aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and
secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy
under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice. freedom, love, equality, and peace,
do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
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10. Human Dignity, Rights, and
theCommon Good
As a democratic nation, Philippines strongly emphasizes human dignity as its foremost
priority to achieve a just and humane society. This is most evident in the creation of Bill
of Rights, a separate article to ensure the protection of rights and liberties of every
Filipino.
Rights are the privileges and entitlements a person must enjoy in the attainment and
protection of his/her human dignity.
Article III, Bill of Rights, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution enumerates every Filipino's
rights. This article is designed to protect the individuals against violations from the
government, fellow individuals, and institutions. It is a charter of liberties for the
individual and it limits the power of the State.
Rights empower the people to participate in the affairs of a society. They ensure the
well-being and economic security of the society, and secures the enjoyment or
contentment of the members. This is what common good really is.
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11. Thank you!