SOC 104 Lecture Notes - Class Conflict, Erving Goffman, Labeling Theory

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 104
• Professor: Graeme Metcalf

Document Summary

Within the concept of conformity is a complex system of social control** Deviance is the recognized violation of cultural norms and one category of deviance is crime: the violation of a society"s. All of us are subject to the measure of social control: attempts by society to regulate our thoughts and behaviour. Our being governed- subject to social control- is dependent on the way in which our society is organized. And so, how a society defines deviance, who is branded as such and how we- and the state-decide to respond to it is based on society. What deviant actions or attitudes, whether negative or positive, have in common is some element of difference that causes us to think of another as outsider or other . Why does crime occur: because people choose to engage in criminal behaviour. Reason: choices based on hedonism, maximize benefit and minimize cost, crime is more attractive that being law-abiding, lifestyle benefits.