Deviant Phenomena and Social Control

Abstract

Deviant phenomena are occurring in a specific social context. These phenomena are developing their own separate histories, and those can evolve over time. Such a context of meaning is necessary to bear in mind, not only for understanding the phenomena, but in order to achieve effective social control. Social control usually seeks to influence human actions through sanctions or certain reactions to their pattern of behavior. Internalization of norms determined probably the most effective form of social control because it negates the need for sanctions. Social control can be expressed through formal or informal methods, while different types of sanctions have different effectiveness. The process of social control is, in essence, part of deviant processes. Some people control others defining their behavior as deviant. In the same way, the definition of deviance has the same function, in order to harmonize human behavior and to keep them out of the scope of sanctions.

Most expressive examples of formal instruments of social control are the laws. By the logic, the law is applied to everyone under a certain political jurisdiction, and any breaches of the law, often, causes a harsh punishment. Members of the community sometimes are not able to agree upon which behaviors are opposed to the law. In such cases, the laws cannot provide effective social control. In other cases, the law creates a worse shortcomings of the inefficiency; in fact, it is sometimes additionally complicates social problems giving power to deviance. Sociologist’s point of view is that both deviance and social control are associated with certain standards. While the deviation behavior varying from group to group, depending on changes in their normative structures, measures of social control also varying.