Unit 3- Social Control and Deviance

Ritualism

Under Merton's Theory of deviance, this basic form of adaptation, people give up on achieving goals but survive by following rules of their job

Social Sanctions

rewards or punishments that promote conformity to social norms

Control Theory

Learning self control is achieved through socialization

Social Norms

shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations

positive sanctions

things such as awards and promotions used to encourage conformity

Functionalist theory

views deviance as a natural part of society

Retreatism

under merton’s theory of deviance, this basic form of adaptation, people reject societies goals and the means of reaching them

shaming

effective sanction used by groups. often used to keep children in line

• the act or activity of subjecting someone to shame, disgrace, humiliation, or disrepute especially by public exposure or criticism

deviance

behavior that departs from societal or group norms

Symbolic Interactionists

argue that we act according to our interpretation of situations

• influenced from our parents

Differential association theory

we learn deviance from the different groups we associate with

Stigma

labels a society uses to devalue members of certain social groups

• once assigned a deviant role (stigmatized) individual has trouble presenting a positive image to others

Functionalists

these types of sociologists believe that deviance is a common part of human existence (defines the limits of proper behavior)

internal social control

questions you can answer internally aimed at avoiding or altering a behavior

• internalization of societal norms, doing what is right because you know it is right (or not because its wrong)

• ex: picking up trash in the woods

negative sanctions

expressions of disapproval of deviance

Innovation

under merton’s theory of deviance, this basic form of adaptation people accept goals but use illegitimate means to reach them

Conflict Perspective

powerful elite that runs our society also runs the criminal justice system, creating a division

• power and social inequality as the main characteristics of society

Conformity

under merton’s theory of deviance, this basic form of adaptation acceptance of the overall societal goal leads to basic adaptation

• acceptance of goals and means

Recidivism

rate at which prisoners are rearrested (high rate)

Retreatism

under merton’s theory of deviance, this basic form of adaptation people reject cultural and societal goals and the means of achieving them

Stigmatized individual

someone who has been assigned a deviant role has been this world

negative sanctions

things such as fines and imprisonment that are intended to stop socially unacceptable behavior

External social control

methods taken by outside forces to promote conformity, creating outside pressure to conform

• ex: hold door open for someone