Week 4 Discussion
Week 4 DiscussionDiscussion Topic Due December 24 at 11:59 PM
During this fourth week, we are examining why most people tend to conform in most of their social interactions, while others deviate from the existing social norms. After you have read the reading assignment and lecture for this week, please respond to all parts of the discussionby the due date assigned:
Review the section on Asch’s Research from your textbook. Describe why the individuals in the Asch experiment usually gave the same answer when they probably knew that it was wrong. How do social control and social bonding explain conformity?
While the pressure to conform is intense, people continue to deviate. Using either Mertons Strain Theory or Beckers Labeling Theory, explain why some people choose to become deviant.
Finally, major crimes occur in our society. Pick a current event (local or national) and describe the crime. Analyze the crime in terms of Durkheims four major functions of deviance.
12/20/2020 Conformity and Deviance – SOC1001-Introduction to Sociology SU03
https://myclasses.southuniversity.edu/d2l/le/content/72187/viewContent/3182979/View 1/1
Psychological Explanations of Deviance
In the quest to understand deviance, some theorists have created psychological explanations of
deviance. Psychological theories concentrate on individual abnormalities involving personality. For
example, containment theory poses the view that juvenile delinquency (among boys) is a result of
social pressure to commit deviant acts in the absence of moral values and a positive self-image. In the
1960s, longitudinal research conducted by Walter Reckless and Simon Dintz supported this
conclusion.
However, there are various weaknesses of the psychological research. First, people who are
psychologically abnormal commit more serious crimes. Second, cross-cultural differences in what is
deemed normal and abnormal tend to be ignored. And third, people with similar psychological qualities
are not as likely to be labeled deviant. Therefore, sociologists have also tackled the concept
of deviance.
Robert Merton
According to Robert Merton, deviance is encouraged by the day-to-day operation of society. His
theory points out imbalances between socially endorsed means available to different groups of people
and the widely held goals and values of society. This structured inequality of opportunity makes some
people prone to anomie. The term “anomie” means a situation in society where individuals receive
little or no moral guidance. There is a higher proportion of deviance in groups experiencing anomie.
Merton identified four adaptive strategies: innovation, rituals, retreats, and rebellion. Conformity, or the
acceptance of both cultural goals and means, is seen as the result of successful socialization and the
opportunity to pursue these goals through socially approved means.
There are some inadequacies to Merton’s approach. First, it is difficult to measure precisely how much
deviance is actually caused by strain. Second, some kinds of deviance, like mental illness and
homosexuality, are not adequately explained. Third, Merton is not precise about why one response to
strain is chosen over another. Fourth, the extent to which variability in cultural values creates different
notions of personal success is not adequately incorporated.
Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin
Researchers Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin have attempted to extend the work of Merton, utilizing
the concept of “relative opportunity structure.” They argue that criminal deviance occurs when there is
limited opportunity to achieve success. They further suggest that criminal subcultures emerge to
organize and expand systems of deviance. In poor and transient neighborhoods, conflict subcultures
(e.g., violent gangs) are often the form this process takes. Those who fail to achieve success using
illegitimate means are likely to fall into retreatist subcultures (e.g., alcoholics). Page 1 of 1
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Both conformity and deviants are shaped by society. This is evident in three ways; first,
deviants exist only in relation to cultural norms. If a behavior is not a norm, then it is
considered deviant. For example, if a person colors her hair blue, then she is considered
deviant by everyone else who follows the norm of non-blue hair. Second, people become
deviant as others define them that way. If the same person colors her hair blue, but no one
sees her, then she is not deviant because she has not been labeled deviant. To be deviant, you
must be labeled as such. Finally, both norms and the way people define situations involve
social power. Generally speaking, those in power are the ones who define the norms. For
example, if the popular group in a high school colors their hair blue they likely will redefine the
norm of coloring hair for the school. Contrary to general belief deviants plays a very important
role in our society. One of the founders of sociology mile Durkheim asserted that Deviants is
an integral part of all societies and serves four major functions, these include affirming cultural
values and norms, clarifying moral boundaries, promoting social unity, encouraging social
change. 12/20/2020 Defining the Norms of a Society – SOC1001-Introduction to Sociology SU03
https://myclasses.southuniversity.edu/d2l/le/content/72187/viewContent/3182980/View 1/1
Who determines and defines the norms of a society? This is an important question because the norms
that are accepted will define who is deviant and who will face sanctions by society. One interpretation
of who sets these norms falls within the social-conflict theory. Based on the ideas of Karl Marx, it
specifies that those who have power in a society will set the norms that will be applied to all others. For
example, laws are determined by lawyers, judges, and politicians, and enforced by the police. Another
example can be seen by looking at high schoolsthe in-crowd determines the trends that others
follow. Finally, we can see this determination of norms by looking at white-collar crime: it can have very
wide-ranging negative effects on society, but those who commit it usually avoid being labeled as
criminals.
Statistical Data
Conclusions have been drawn by sociologists from the official statistics about crime in the United
States. Statistical data can differentiate between those who are considered deviant and those who are
not. By knowing this, we can deduce what groups are defining the norms of society. Official statistics
show that the arrest rates on an average peak for those who are in their late adolescence and then
decline as age advances. Generally, three of every four people apprehended by police are arrested for
property crimes. It has also been shown that males commit eighty-four percent of violent crimes.
Those who are poor are found to commit more street crime than those who are affluent. Many more
whites than African Americans are arrested for street crime. Yet, on a proportional basis of population,
many more African Americans are arrested. At the same time, considerably fewer Asian Americans are
arrested for crime.
Sociologists use crime data to understand patterns and trends within crime and deviance. Click on the
link Uniform Crime Reporting below to explore the FBI database of crime statistics.
Arrest and Police Discretion
It has been shown that police have a great deal of discretion in making arrests. There is a much
greater chance of an arrest if there is a serious crime, there are witnesses to the crime, or if an African
American has been accused.
The American justice system is an adversarial court system but most cases are resolved through plea
bargains. It is important to note that regardless of how efficient the American justice system is, it does
place those who have less power and affluence at a great disadvantage. Page 1 of 1
Introduction to Sociology
2017 South University
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Who determines and defines the norms of a society? This is an important question because
the norms that are accepted will define who is deviant and who will face sanctions by society.
Social conflict theorists argue that those who have power in a society will set the norms that
will be applied to all others. For example, laws are determined by lawyers, judges and
politicians and enforced by the police. We can see this determination of norms by examining
white collar crime. It has very negative effects on society but those who commit it usually
avoid being labeled as criminals.
Statistical data can differentiate between those who are considered deviant and those who
are not. By knowing this, we can deduce which groups are defining the norms of society.
Official statistics show that arrest rates generally peak for in late adolescence and then decline
as age advances. Three of every four people apprehended by police are arrested for property
crimes. Additionally, males commit 84% of violent crimes. Those who are poor are found to
commit more street crime than the affluent. Many more whites than African Americans are
arrested for street crime but on a proportional basis for population many more African
Americans are arrested. Additionally, considerably fewer Asian Americans are arrested for
crime. The police have a great deal of discretion in making arrest. There is a much greater
chance of an arrest if there is a serious crime, there are witnesses to the crime, or if an African
American has been accused. The American Justice System is an adversarial court system but
most cases are resolved through plea bargains. Importantly, regardless of how efficient the
American Justice System is, it places those who have less power and influence at a great
disadvantage.
