Module

Understanding Culture, Society and

Politics

6 CONFORMITY, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Name:___________________________________________________________________Strand and
Section:___________________________

Introduction

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Differentiate conformity and deviance.
2. Apply the concept of social control as an important foundation of a meaningful society

Warm-up

Put a check smiling face  if you have never ever done this in your life, and put a sad face  if you have.
_________1. I have never ever vandalized walls in one of the classrooms in the school.
_________2. I have never ever cheated in one of my exams before.
_________3. I have never ever thrown my trash on the road before.
_________4. I have never ever gone out my house during curfew hours.
_________5. I have never ever cut one of my classes before.
_________6. I have never ever stolen my classmate’s money.
_________7. I have never ever bullied one of my classmates.
_________8. I have never ever used my phone during class hours.
_________9. I have never ever been into a fistfight with someone before.
_________10. I have never ever answered back my parents disrespectfully after they scolded me?

A. What have you realized after doing this activity?

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B. Why do you think people do such things even they know they are wrong?
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CONFORMITY and DEVIANCE

Do you act differently from what others expect of you? How do they respond to your statements and
actions? These are questions that must be considered when discussing the concept of deviance and conformity.

Conformity (verb: conform which means to follow) is the act of following the roles and goals of one's society.
This behavior is often met with rewards and acceptance from other members of the society.

Deviance (verb: defy which means to refuse to obey) is the act of violating the prescribed social norms or a
behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society. Acts of deviance are often
associated with a stigma. A stigma is a strong sense of disapproval on nonconforming behavior from members of
a society. When deviance is within the context of legal structures, it may even be considered a crime or a violation
of a law.

Theories on the Existence of Deviants

1. Social Control Theory- Deviance is primarily caused by lack in stronger social bonds within a society.
As an individual feels less attached to his or her society, there is a higher chance for him or her to deviate
from social norms.

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2. Rational Choice Theory- The individual’s decision to follow or to go against social norms is dependent
on their perceived cost and benefit of such action. If following a norm would cost them more than what
they could spare, such a norm is set aside and they would choose to perform a deviant act.

3. Differential Association Theory-Conformity or deviance is learned by an individual from those he or

she associates with. If and individual has stronger associations with a group of deviants, then it is most
likely that he or she would conform to deviant behavior than that of what he general public considers as a
norm. For example, juvenile gangs learn to be deviant as they embrace and conform to their gang’s
norms.

4. Labeling Theory-Actions are initially not considered deviant until they are labeled as such by members
of the community. Based on this theory, there are two stages of deviance. Primary deviance is a type of
act that does not end with the individual being labeled as such. This is due to the age and intensity of the
deviance committed. Secondary deviance is a type of act that results from being labeled by society as
deviant. This presents the idea that those who are labeled as deviants would often commit deviant acts
due to societal pressure brought about by. A stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, a
person based on perceivable characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of the
society.

5. Conflict Theory-Society consists of opposing groups of people who access to power is unequal. The
group that has access to power determines based on their perceived advantage. Usually, the set of
behaviors of the elite is created and reproduced as the norm, and those powerless are considered deviant.

6. Structural-functionalism Theory-This theory proposes two perspectives in the formation of deviant

behavior. On the macro level, deviance is the product of the breakdown of social norms which produces
anomie or social disorganization. On the micro level, deviance is a product of the role strain that an
individual experiences due to lack of resources to cope with the demands of the social norms.

ACTIVITY A: IDENTIFICATION
Directions: Read each situation comprehensively and determine which theory of deviance each situation best
describes. Write your answer on the blank.
1. Fernando is jobless and has difficulty in providing the needs of his newborn baby. He asks money from
everyone he knows but nobody lends a hand. Because of this difficulty, he is forced to steal a can of
powdered milk at a convenience store for his baby. This deviant act of Fernando is an example of
____________________________________________.

2. Marco, who used to be a good and obedient boy, joins a group of gangsters in the school. Because of his
joining in the infamous group, he does what his gang members do such as getting into trouble, engaging
in excessive alcohol drinking and smoking, and using illegal substance. This deviant act of Marco is an
example of ____________________________________________.

3. A group of tricycle drivers is on strike because they are against the new policy of Saban Municipal
Government of lowering the minimum fare from 10 pesos to 7 pesos. They insist that this policy would
only benefit the commuters but will have a decline on their profit as tricycle drivers. Thus, they are
protesting. This act of deviance best exemplifies
____________________________________________________.

4. Kimberly feels that her parents do not give attention to her wants. She feels offended and hurt every time
her parents scold her about her misbehavior. Sometimes, she feels that she does not belong to the family,
thus causing her not be close with her father and mother. One day, she decided to leave their house and
rebel against her parents. This act of deviance best exemplifies
_____________________________________________.

5. Marco has been falsely accused by Michelle, his neighbor, who stole her smartphone. The rumors spread
all over the barangay and people call him “manakaw” because of how Michelle narrated her story and
labeled him as such. This situation best exemplifies
_____________________________________________________.

A society must have social order if it is to function smoothly, but no society succeeds in getting all its
members to behave as expected all the time. When a persona fails to conform to the social norms of society,
social deviation arises. If societies are to survive, they must have ways of making people conform to social
norms.

SOCIAL CONTROL
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To maintain social order and stability, social control is needed. The two elements that promote social
control are internalization and sanctions. Internalization is an integral part of communicating and
incorporating social norms to an individual’s personality. It is in this process that an individual is made to
automatically conform to the dictates of his or her society through a cost-benefit orientation. One key element in
ensuring that individuals are able to internalize social norms is the establishment of sanctions.

TRY THIS!
What happens if you decide not to do your module before the deadline? List some possible outcomes.

1.
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2.
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3.
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Considering all these possible repercussions of not completing your module before deadline, would you choose to
finish it before deadline or still sidestep it?

Sanctions are powerful in leading an individual to conform to social norms. Despite an individual’s disinclination
to conform, when the sanction is strong, there is a high possibility that he or she will decide to follow the norm.

FOUR TYPES OF SANCTIONS

Formal Sanctions are the rewards or forms of Informal Sanctions are the rewards and forms of
punishment that are formally awarded by an punishment that are spontaneously given by an
institution such as government, a council, or an individual or a group of people as a response to a
establishment. behavior that was either accepted or disapproved.

Positive Sanctions are actions or statements that Negative Sanctions are actions or statements that
reward a particular behavior, which reinforce its punish a particular behavior, which inhibits its
repetition. repetition.

Formal Positive Formal Negative Informal Positive Informal Negative

A reward given by an
Definition institution to encourage
conformity
1. Recognition of honors in
a learning facility
A punishment given by
an institution to enforce
conformity
1. Imprisonment for a
crime committed.
A reward given by an A punishment given by
individual/group that an individual or group
encourages conformity to coerce conformity.
1. Standing ovation 1. Gossip about a bad
from the viewers behavior

2. Medal of honor for 2. Being fired from a 2. An affirmative nod 2. Ridicule from peers
outstanding conduct in workplace for from supervisor.
Examples
government service. unsatisfactory service.

3. Promotion in the 3. Payment of fines for 3. Cheers from 3. Being grounded by

workplace for an excellent offenses committed. teammates for scoring a parent.
performance a shot.

ACTIVITY B: MATCHING TYPE

Directions: Determine the following sanctions if where they belong. Write the letters only inside the box.
a. Recognition of honors in the school b. Standing ovation from the viewers
c. Gossip about a bad behavior d. Cheers from teammates for scoring a shot.
e. Ridicule from peers f. Being grounded by a parent
g. An affirmative nod from supervisor. h. Medal of honor for outstanding conduct in
government
i. Imprisonment for a crime committed. j. Payment of fines for offenses committed.
k. A tap at your back for a job well done. l. Promotion in the workplace for an great
performance
m. Scolded by a parent n. Class suspension for vandalizing the walls
o. Being fired from a workplace for unsatisfactory service.

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 Understanding Culture, Society and
Politics

Formal Positive Formal Negative Informal Positive Informal Negative

1. 1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3. 3.
4. 4. 4. 4.
5. 5. 5. 5.

ACTIVITY C: APPLICATION
If you were the teacher, what sanction would you give to your students who fail to answer the modules before the
deadline and who do not answer the activities in the module?
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