SOCIAL ORDER, SOCIAL CONTROL AND

DEVIANCE

A SOCIOLOGY LESSON GIVEN TO Form 6A @ WBS

WEEK TWO NOVEMBER 2011LESSON ONE

OBJECTIVES

UNDERSTAND HOW ORDER IS MAINTAINED IN SOCIETY

APPRECIATE THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INSTUITIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROL, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CARIBBEAN

BE FAMILIAR WITH ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS OF DEVIANCE AND CRIME.

CONCEPTS

SOCIAL ORDER – According to Mike O’ Donnell this is a state in which social life can be conducted without major disruptions.

SOCIAL CONTROL – The mechanics by which we maintain social order.

The means by which society gets people to conform.

It can be formal or informal.

Social Control

SOCIAL CONTROL

FORMAL – Written/ set rules – sanctions

Informal – based on approval or disapproval praise, smile, scorn, ridicule, arguments.

Institutions of Social Control

An Industry of Social Control

Free Society ? - A Social Control Industry Crime – police, soldiers, lawyers etc. Delinquency – boot camp, counsellor Deviance – psychologist Immortality – religion Perversity – counsellor Wickedness – prison system Deficiency – psychologist, pastor Sickness – doctors etc. Terrorism – legal system/ government.

Terrorism – national & social defence Sickness – treatment Wickedness – justice, segragation Deviance – reform, treatment Delinquency – rehabilitation Punishment – crime

Deviance

‘One man’s deviation may be another’s action’ – David Matza (1964)

‘Deviancy may be defined as non – conformity to a given set of norms that are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society.’ – Anthony Giddens

Deviance

‘Deviance is much more than a matter of individual choice or personal feeling. How a society defines deviance; whom individuals brand and describe as deviant and what people decide to do about non – conformity are all issues of social organisation.’ Macionis and Plummer (2005:428)

Deviance

In examining deviance and crime we must attempt to understand it from the point of view of those who participate in it.