Chapter 4

CONFORMITY AND DEVIANCE: SOCIAL CONTROL

Suppose that in one exclusive school, it is the norm for students to be at their best behavior at all times while inside the school premises. All students
therefore continuously make an effort to maintain their grace, poise, and good appearance in order to avoid any sanctions.

Liz, a difficult and problematic student, transferred to the same school last year. In just one year of stay, she was able to set up at least 5 pranks on her
classmates and teachers. Despite being punished for several times, she still cuts classes and comes to school not wearing the prescribed uniform. There was
also a time when she punched two of the school's guards because they did not let her vandalize the principal's office. Liz's classmates do not want to be
friends with her because of her behavior. They call her "Crazy Liz" behind her back.

Analyze the scenario.

What qualities characterize conformity and deviance?

How does deviance affect a person's social status?
Will actions have an effect on social status if they were unintentional?
Find out the answers in this lesson!

Conformity and Deviance

In our everyday lives, we notice that there are specific standards for our actions, simple or complex, set by society. People tend to have different responses
with these imagined pressures depending on their upbringing, values, or ideals. These reactions are called conformity and deviance.

Conformity
is linked to the obedience of a person to the norms in order to be acceptable in a particular society, group, or social setting
Example: The majority of the class members, through a group consensus, agreed to accept the proposal.

Deviance
is the non-conformity or violation of the standards of conduct, expectations, or norms of a particular group or society
Example: There are power struggles among netizens who disagree on the re-imposition of the death penalty.

Social Control
It is believed that society must have a social order to function smoothly. The social order includes social standards, laws, rules, and norms which are set by
society, whether they are by the majority or by a hierarchy. Ideally, people must exhibit social order, but in reality, no society succeeds in getting all its
members to behave as expected all the time. If social order is seen as the only way for communities to survive, they must have ways of making people
conform to social norms.

Social Control Theory

This is based on the idea that a person's fundamental belief system, values, morals, commitments, and relationships promote a protected environment.

Oftentimes, individuals who have these beliefs and commitments have a level of self-control over their actions.

It examines or evaluates how society affects criminal behavior.

It emphasizes the idea that when people are involved and in contact with their community, they are less likely to perpetrate criminal acts.
Social Processes and Relationships
The illustration below shows the social processes and relationships of deviance, conformity, and social control.

In the given scenario earlier, the school was the representation of society−the students were the conformists and Liz was the defiant one. The school had
particular rules and standard of behaving, and Liz's actions caused disturbance within the school. They did not only cause chaos, but they also led Liz to be
stigmatized.

Negative sanctions will be given to people who exhibit deviant acts, while effective sanctions will be given to those who observe or conform.

Keypoints
Conformity is linked to the obedience of a person to the norms that are acceptable in a particular society, group, or social setting.

Deviance is the non-conformity or violation of the standards of conduct, expectations, or norms of a particular group or society.

Social control theory is based upon the idea that an individual's underlying belief system, values, morals, commitments, and relationships foster a proper
environment.

Social order is considered to be the only solution to achieve societal survival and social control. Conformity is the only way to achieve this.

Gossip, social rejection or ostracism, and laws and punishments are forms of social pressures that contribute to the exhibition of social control.

Deviance, conformity, and social control are always present in a given society or group. These are not limited to a high number of people but to a group that
is capable of setting standards, rules and norms.
CONFORMITY AND DEVIANCE: FORMS OF DEVIANCE

Conformity and Deviance

The concept of conformity is linked to the obedience of a person to the norms to be acceptable in a particular society, group, or social setting.

Deviance, on the other hand, is the non-conformity or violation of the standards of conduct, expectations, or norms of a particular group or society.

Note that deviant behavior is relative. A particular society may consider a certain behavior deviant, but the same behavior may be acceptable in another
society.

Deviance as Explained by the Structural Strain Theory

The forms of deviance are the responses or adaptations by people in a society caused by the imbalance or “strain” between the valued goals in the society
and the legitimate or acceptable means to achieve such goals. This idea is taken from the Structural Strain Theory conceptualized by sociologist Robert K.
Merton. Two variables taken into account in this theory are valued goals and legitimate means to achieve goals.

Valued Goals
These are goals that are defined by society as valuable, or simply, the goals that are typically pursued in a society.

Example: financial success

Legitimate Means to Achieve Goals

These are the acceptable ways people can do to achieve such valued goals in a society.

Example: get a good education

Types of Adaptation
In our everyday lives, we would notice that there are actions considered to be legitimate or acceptable for a particular society toward achieving valued
goals.

While people usually conform to legitimate or acceptable means to achieve goals, there are people who will not. One reason for this is because the
legitimate means are just not available for them, and so unequal opportunities exist to achieve these goals. Merton identified five typologies of how people
adapt to their value system or the goals-means dynamics of their respective society.

These typologies are:

Conformity –accepts goals and the institutionalized, acceptable or legitimate means of obtaining them,
Ritualism –rejects goals and accepts or adheres to institutionalized means of obtaining them,
Retreatism –rejects both goals and means of obtaining them,
Rebellion –creates new goals and new means of obtaining them, and
Innovation –accepts goals and rejects institutionalized means of obtaining them.
Ritualism, retreatism, rebellion, and innovation are forms of deviance.

Forms of Deviance
Merton conceptualized four responses that are considered deviant and caused by a strain or imbalance between valued goals and legitimate means in a
particular society.

Ritualism
Ritualism is exhibited when someone rejects traditional cultural goals but still adheres to the culturally approved methods or rules for making progress
towards the same goals.

Example: An employee still stays in his job even though he is aware that it is a dead-end job. In ritualism, people experience feelings of despair and anomie
(social instability) that result to modification or abandonment of the idealized cultural goals, but still persist at a ritualized, unfulfilling line of work.

Retreatism
Retreatism is the response that rejects or abandons both cultural goals and the institutionalized or legitimate means for attaining them.

Example: Examples of people who exhibit retreatism are drug addicts and alcoholics. The ultimate form of retreatism is suicide.

Innovation
Innovation entails the acceptance of the valued goal but the rejection of legitimate or institutionalized means to achieve them (resorting to criminal or
delinquent acts).

Example: An example of this is when a person wants a nice car but does not have enough money, so he steals money from the bank. Some people may
resort to stealing or dealing drugs to achieve cultural goals.

Rebellion
Rebellion not only rejects the valued goals and the legitimate means of the established society but also actively attempts to substitute new goals and
means. This can be applied to political deviants who attempt to modify the existing structure of society.

Example: Examples for this are neo-Nazis and other hate groups. The rebels will publicly acknowledge their intention to change the norms and the social
structure.

The table below summarizes Merton’s typology of individual adaptations.

Legend:
"+" signifies acceptance
"–" signifies rejection
"+ and -" signifies rejection of prevailing goal or means and
substitution of new goal or means

Keypoints
Conformity is the obedience to the norms that make a person acceptable to a particular society, group, or social setting.
Deviance is the non-conformity or violation of the standards of conduct, expectations, or norms of a group or society.
Robert K. Merton developed the Structural Strain Theory to explore how people respond to cultural values and how they are supposed to achieve them.
There are five typologies of how people adapt to the value system of their respective society and these are conformity, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion, and
innovation.
The four forms of deviance are ritualism, retreatism, rebellion, and innovation.
A person’s response or adaptation is not always linear. It clearly depends on how the person weighs the situation according to his or her needs.

HUMAN DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

It was on the 10th of December 1948 in Paris when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed to have a common standard of
achievement for all peoples and all nations.

According to its Article 1:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.”

Given these, why do you think some people are still repressed from these privileges based on their race, citizenship, or color?

Human Dignity and Rights

As stated, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” No color of skin, physical disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief can
stop anybody from protecting his or her dignity and enjoying his or her rights as a person. Human dignity and rights go together and are essential to the
attainment of common interest.

Human Dignity
There are two ways to understand human dignity.

The religious aspect believes that humans have a unique place in the world and that human life is sacred.

In moral, ethical, legal, and political discussions, human dignity is used to express the idea that a being has an innate right to be valued, respected, and to
receive ethical treatment.

Human dignity
an individual or group's sense of self-respect and worth, physical and psychological integrity, and empowerment affirms that every person is worthy of
respect; that our value as people should never be debated means having a quality life and not experiencing oppression or manipulation is uplifted when
people are granted with their rights. It is, therefore, true to say that any right safeguarded by the International Human Rights Law is substantiated by the
dignity of the human person.

Human Rights
are rights inherent to all people, regardless of nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status are
the freedom and privileges that belong to every person in the world guarantees that all people shall be ensured to enjoy life, liberty, and security

Characteristics of Human Rights

Human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated.

Universality and Inalienability

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Indivisibility
Whether they relate to cultural, civil, economic, political, or social issues, human rights are inherent to the dignity of every human person.

Interdependence and Interrelatedness

The fulfillment of one right often depends on, wholly or in part, the fulfillment of others.

Both human dignity and rights should not be taken away, but sadly, they are denied to some people as manifested by poverty, illiteracy, crime, and
discrimination in society.

Inclusive Citizenship
Inclusive citizenship is a governing policy that promotes human dignity and human rights.

It focuses on legal equality for each citizen directed at giving all citizens a strong feeling that they are part of the overall society.

Its policies include laws that provide non-segregated access to all citizens, regardless of their race, gender, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.

While a government cannot guarantee equality in all private organizations, inclusive citizenship focuses on the legal rights of all individuals in cases where
the government determines their rights of inclusion.

It establishes a governing foundation where it gives its citizens a sense of security so that they will feel that their government hears and respects their ideas.

In return, people will be more inclined to voice out their grievances through proper channels, such as petitioning a representative to investigate their
situation.

Moreover, this right can motivate the citizens to participate in government activities, raising voter turnout, civic participation, and serving in the military.

Under inclusive citizenship, there are rights that the government provides for its citizens. Examples of these are the equal right to vote, equal right to serve
in the military, same right to marry, similar tax responsibilities, and equal right to represent others in the government.

Citizens also have access to public funds, public organizations, and equal rights and acceptance by national figures.

Protection of Human Dignity and Rights

Laws and declaration support the protection of human rights and the dignity of people. The International Human Rights Law constitutes the basis of
fundamental rights. With this law, dignity is also protected. It must be respected, even where a right is restricted. Conventions such as the 1997 European
Union Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being are also held to promote rights and dignity through different fields.

Keypoints
Human dignity in a religious sense believes that humans have a special place in the world and that human life is sacred. In a moral, ethical, legal, and
political sense, it is used to express the idea that a being has an innate right to be valued, respected, and to receive ethical treatment.

Human rights are rights inherent to all people, regardless of nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any
other status. They are universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated.

Inclusive citizenship is a governing policy that focuses on legal equality for each citizen.

Human rights and dignity are protected and promoted through laws, declarations, and conventions.

THE COMMON GOOD

##Human Dignity

In a religious point of view, it is believed that humans have a unique place in the world, and that human life is sacred. In the secular point of view, a human
is seen as having an innate right to be valued, respected, and to receive ethical treatment.

Human dignity is an individual or group's sense of self-respect and worth, physical and psychological integrity, and empowerment.

It affirms that every person is worthy of respect. Our value as persons should never be debated.

It means having a quality life and not experiencing oppression or manipulation.

Human Rights
Human rights are rights inherent to all people, regardless of nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any
other status. They are the freedoms and privileges that belong to every person in the world. All people shall be ensured to enjoy life, liberty, and security.

Human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated.

Universality and Inalienability: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Indivisibility: Whether they relate to cultural, civil, economic, political or social issues, human rights are inherent to the dignity of every human person.
Interdependence and Interrelatedness: The fulfillment of one right often depends on, wholly or in part, the fulfillment of others.

Inclusive Citizenship
Inclusive citizenship is a governing policy that promotes human dignity and human rights.

It focuses on legal equality for each citizen and directed at giving all citizens a strong feeling that they are a part of the overall society.

Its policies include laws that provide non-segregated access to all citizens regardless of their race, gender, religious affiliation, or socioeconomic status.

It establishes a governing foundation where it gives its citizens a sense of security so that the community feels like the government hears and respects its
ideas.

Citizens are more inclined to voice their grievances through proper channels, such as petitioning a representative to investigate their situations.

Moreover, this right can motivate citizens to participate in the government by raising voter turnout, civic participation, and greater willingness to serve in
the military.

Under inclusive citizenship, there are rights that the government provides for its citizens. Examples of these are equal right to vote, equal right to serve in
the military, same right to marry, similar tax responsibilities, and equal right to represent others in the government.

Citizens also have access to public funds, public organizations, equal rights, and acceptance by national figures..

The Common Good

The common good refers to: what is shared and advantageous for all or most members of a given society, and what is achieved by citizenship, be it
collective action or active participation.

When dignity and rights are granted to people, the common good is achieved. It happens when society benefits as a whole. The common good is reached
when the majority, a high number of individuals, or society as a whole benefits from a situation or event.

The recognition of people's dignity and rights is the foundation of "freedom, peace, and justice in the world," as stated in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948. The common good sustains order and happiness in the community. It is not hard to achieve.

Protection of Human Dignity, Rights, and the Common Good

Human dignity, rights, and the common good are not new concepts; neither are the issues about their existence in society.

Can they be granted?

Can they be achieved?
Since ancient times, literature figures have given criticisms on issues of the existence and absence of human rights, dignity, and the common good. Among
the list are the works of Aristotle, Rousseau, and Machiavelli. In modern times, not much has changed. The same old questions and problems are asked, but
the modern world continues to work towards addressing such concerns.

International organizations and different countries pledged to the United Nations to uphold human rights and dignity. If proven to disobey laws and rules,
one has to be punished in accordance with the law.

Ideally, the common good is protected when all people enjoy their rights and preserve their dignity. For an individual, this means having freedom as a
consumer, owner, and citizen that also includes right to rest and leisure, equal access to public works and services, freedom of association, religion, or
speech and employment.

Key Points
Human rights are rights inherent to all people, regardless of nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any
other status.

Human dignity is a person's or group's sense of self-respect and worth, physical and psychological integrity, and empowerment.

The common good refers to what is shared and favorable for all or most members of a given community. The common good is protected when each person
enjoys his or her rights and preserves his or her dignity.

Inclusive citizenship is a governing policy that promotes human dignity and human rights. This focuses on legal equality for each citizen, and is directed at
giving all citizens a strong feeling that they are part of the overall society.