Conformity, Nonconformity, and Theories of Deviance

Conformity: Acting or thinking differently in a group situation compared to being alone.
- Forms of Conformity:
- Compliance: Adjusting behavior in response to a direct request.
- Obedience: Following explicit instructions from an authority figure.
- Acceptance: Internalizing others' opinions or behaviors as one's own.

Normative Conformity: Conforming to fit in with others or to be liked.
Informational Conformity: Conforming due to a lack of information, or when unsure what to do.

Sherif's Auto-Kinetic Experiments (Muzafer Sherif, 1935):
- Examines the formation of social norms through ambiguous stimuli.
Asch’s Conformity Experiments (Solomon Asch, 1950s):
- Explores how peer influence shapes individual opinions.

Anomie Theory (Robert Merton):
- Describes a state of normlessness in society.
- Issues arise when culturally defined goals and means are unattainable, resulting in strain.

Innovation: Accept goals, reject means (e.g., seeking quick success, like winning the lottery).
Ritualism: Reject goals, accept means (e.g., going through the motions).
Retreatism: Reject both goals and means (e.g., substance abuse).
Rebellion: Reject existing goals and means while promoting new ones.

Control Theory: Social control mechanisms and the strength of social ties help maintain conformity.
Social Bonds Theory (Travis Hirschi): Our connections impact the likelihood of deviant behavior based on:
- Attachment: Emotional bonds to others.
- Commitment: Investment in societal goals.
- Involvement: Participation in conventional activities.
- Belief: Acceptance of social rules and norms.
Differential Association Theory (Edwin Sutherland):
- Criminal behavior is learned from primary groups through social interaction.
Differential Identification Theory (Glaser):
- Highlights learning from non-significant others instead of just primary groups.

Grounded in Symbolic Interactionism (Howard Becker):
- Focuses on societal reactions to deviance instead of the deviant act itself.
- Emphasizes that the definition of deviance is in the eye of the beholder.

Primary Deviance: Initial act of violation.
Secondary Deviance: Internalization of a deviant identity due to repeated behavior or social labeling.

Denial of responsibility: Avoiding accountability for actions.
Denial of injury: Claiming no harm was done.
Denial of victim: Arguing that the victim deserved the consequence.
Condemning the condemners: Misdirection of blame to the accuser.
Appeal to a higher loyalty: Prioritizing allegiance to a group over societal norms.

Informal Labelling: Social penalties for broken informal rules (e.g., cheating in relationships).
Formal Labelling: Institutional reactions that can carry stigma, often resulting in documentation and potential lifelong repercussions.

Benefits:
- Provides clear points of reference for consequences.
- Can serve as scapegoats to alleviate societal tension (e.g., political scapegoating).
- Promotes community and solidarity around shared challenges.
Drawbacks:
- Labels can overshadow individual identity (e.g., children diagnosed as ‘problematic’).
- Risk of self-fulfilling prophecies (e.g., stigmatization of children with learning disabilities).
- Potential for over-medication and dependency on labels for societal acceptance (e.g., ADHD treatments).