Response Paper #5

Response Paper #5

            Formal and informal mechanisms of social control are evident everywhere, especially at work and school.  Formal mechanisms are ones that are definitively written down, such as laws, rules, etc. They are clearly defined rules on what you can and cannot do.   Informal mechanisms are not literally written down rules, but they are to be known by everyone.  An example of this would be “wash your hands before and after every meal.”  It is not an official law, but people know that it should be done.  Formal and informal mechanisms maintain social control by controlling how people behave, telling what people should and should not do, and establishing what is “normal” or not within a society. 

            Deviance is any behavior that strays from the social norms.  Deviance is a product of the social system, not the individual, because of how we are taught what is right and wrong.  We are taught to confirm and act obediently within society.  This is how the formal and informal mechanisms are put to use.  Also, deviance goes hand in hand with stigmas within our society.  People who might have acted a certain way in their youth, yet no longer acts that way may still be labeled by their deviance. People often carry the label of being a “deviant” with them if they have broken a law in the past.  If you pick your nose in public though, you are still committing a deviant act, and are therefore a deviant.  The perception of what a deviant is greatly differs.  It’s unfair in these two cases that deviants still carry a label and are viewed in a negative aspect.

Social control is the techniques and strategies used to prevent deviant behavior in a society.  Social control is enforced in many different ways.  The most common being the police and enforcing laws.  Laws keep people in line in a society by clearly defining what people can and cannot do.  We know as citizens that if we do something we know we should not, then we will be punished; we can be arrested and go to jail.  Sanctions are penalties and rewards that come because of behaviors that are displayed.  If one acts a certain way then they will either receive a penalty of reward.  Between social control and sanctions, we know what we must do to keep going from day to day without any problems.

I feel that social control is not so needed at Kean University.  Although you will see officers and officials riding around and a rule book for our school, I don’t think there is much going on that needs an element of social control.  Of course things happen, but for the most part everyone I see is either just trying to get to class on time, figure out where they are going, or in general just heading somewhere.  I have experienced that most people at Kean do work and take night classes here.  I feel that at my work though, we have some sense of control.  Although in my position I don’t have too much I have to do with reporting, but as always there are the big bosses that have to keep everyone in line.  As employees, we know what we can/cannot wear, do, etc.  It is structured so everyone does their job and stays in line.

Overall, the way that deviance is viewed in our society is getting out of control.  In the current time of our society kids are automatically labeled as deviant if they act out even once.  Kids are put on medicines to control their behavior and whatnot.  Deviance is looked at so negatively and seriously, when the technical meaning is not always such a harsh act.  People are kept “in line” and following the main culture.  There is no escaping the control and no getting away with any “deviance.”