Conformity and Deviance Flashcards
Conformity
The process by which one changes their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour to meet the expectations of a group (or authority figure)
Compliance
When a person changes their behaviour to achieve rewards or avoid punishments, but it may be opposite to their thoughts or beliefs.
Deviance
The state of departing from societies usual accepted standards. It s not always criminal, but it is most prevalent amongst youth.
Why do we use Merton’s typology
So we can understand the 5 types of behaviours that constitute deviance.
what are the 5 behaviours in Merton’s typology?
Conformity, Ritualism, Innovation, retreatism, Rebellion
The conformist
They love to accept cultural goals, and how to attain them.
- They always abide by the rules
The ritualist
Accept the means or standards to achieve the goal, BUT do not accept the cultural goals of society
the Innovator
Their Goals are in line with society
They accept the cultural goals of life but reject accomplishing goals in acceptable channels and traditional means
- they like to establish new standards
The retreatist
They reject all aspects of cultural goals, and institutionalized means.
- They prefer to “go by the flow”
Rebel
They are similar to retreatists but they do not isolate themselves
many of them like to change society for the good
Breaching experiments
Studying the results of intentionally
going against the norm and then analyzing people’s reaction to a breach.
Conformity vs compliance?
Conformity is when you are agreeing and enjoying the situation, compliance is when you didn’t nescisairly agree with the situation but you are doing it just for the sake of avoiding punishments and receiving rewards.
