Norm Hierarchy Slides NORM HIERARCHY
Social Norms and Their Violations
SOCIOLOGY UNIT 1.1
Social Friction
Imagine you are in a crowded elevator...
What happens if someone gets in and stands facing the back corner, silent and unmoving?
How do people react?
How do YOU feel?
Has a law been broken?
This is a violation of a social norm —the unwritten rules of behavior.
WHAT ARE NORMS?
Definition
Shared expectations for behavior that guide social life.
Function
They make social life predictable and provide a script for interaction.
Sanctions
Reactions people receive for following or breaking norms.
"Norms are not just rules; they are the glue that holds our society together."
The Hierarchy of Norms
01
FOLKWAYS
Routine conventions of everyday life. Violation is "weird" but not immoral. (e.g., using the wrong fork, elevator behavior).
02
MORES (mor-ays)
Norms that have moral significance. Violation is seen as harmful to society. (e.g., lying to a friend, wearing a swimsuit to a funeral).
03
Taboos
Norms so strong that their violation is considered disgusting or unthinkable. (e.g., cannibalism, incest).
So, what is DEVIANCE?
Deviance is simply the violation of a social norm.
Key Insight: Deviance is NOT just about crime. It's about anything that breaks the shared script of our culture.
Next: Classifying Violations
Norm Scramble Worksheet NORM SCRAMBLE
Classification & Analysis Activity
Name:
Date:
PART 1
The Hierarchy Review
Fill in the missing terms using the hierarchy levels: Folkway, More, or Taboo.
1. A ______________________ is a routine convention of daily life. Breaking one is socially awkward but rarely seen as "evil."
2. A ______________________ is a norm with high moral significance. Violation often results in strong social disapproval.
3. A ______________________ is an extremely strong norm; its violation is considered revolting or unthinkable in a culture.
PART 2
Scramble & Categorize
For each behavior below, check the correct category and provide a brief justification for your choice based on the expected social reaction.
Behavior Folkway More Taboo Justification Standing facing the back wall in an elevator.
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| Lying to your parents about where you were last night. |
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| Practicing cannibalism. |
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| Cutting to the front of a long line at a concert. |
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| Showing up to a formal wedding in a swimsuit. |
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Behavior Folkway More Taboo Justification Talking loudly during a movie in a theater.
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| Cheating on a final exam. |
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| Using profanity while speaking to a toddler. |
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PART 3
Critical Reflection
Which of the three categories (Folkway, More, Taboo) is the most difficult to define clearly? Why do you think that is?
Identify a behavior that might have been a "Taboo" fifty years ago but is now considered a "Folkway" or even normal behavior today. What changed in society to cause this shift?
CIVICS & SOCIOLOGY: ANALYZING SOCIAL DEVIANCE
The Labeling Effect Slides CHAPTER 02
THE LABELING EFFECT
"It's not what you do, but how you're seen."
LABELING THEORY
"Deviance is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions."
— Howard Becker (1963)
Society creates deviance by making rules and then labeling those who break them as "outsiders."
Focus shifts from the ACT to the REACTION.
Focus shifts from the INDIVIDUAL to the AUDIENCE.
Two Stages of Deviance
1
PRIMARY DEVIANCE
The initial act of rule-breaking. It is often temporary, exploratory, or trivial.
"I stole a candy bar once as a kid, but I don't see myself as a thief."
2
SECONDARY DEVIANCE
Deviance that results from being labeled. The person accepts the label as part of their identity.
"Everyone calls me a criminal, so I might as well act like one."
MASTER STATUS
The identity that overrides all others.
WHEN THE LABEL STICKS
A label like "criminal," "addict," or "troublemaker" becomes the primary lens through which others see you.
Opportunities (jobs, friends) are blocked by the label.
The individual begins to believe the label is true (Self-Fulfilling Prophecy).
CASE STUDY: William Chambliss (1973)
THE SAINTS
8 wealthy, upper-middle-class boys.
Constant truancy, drinking, theft.
Reaction: "Just boys being boys."
The Roughnecks
6 lower-class boys.
Similar levels of truancy and theft.
Reaction: "Headed for trouble."
WHY the difference? Visibility, demeanor, and social class bias.
Labeling Theory Case Studies Labeling & Identity
Case Study Analysis Worksheet
NAME:
Core Theory Reminder
Labeling Theory suggests that people's identities and behaviors are shaped by how they are categorized by others. A Master Status is an identity (like "delinquent") that overrides all other characteristics of a person.
1 CASE ANALYSIS: The Saints & The Roughnecks
In 1973, sociologist William Chambliss observed two groups of high school boys. Both groups participated in similar levels of "deviant" behavior (drinking, wild driving, petty theft, and vandalism).
The Saints: Eight wealthy, upper-middle-class boys. They were seen as "good students" and "future leaders." When caught by police, they were polite and apologetic.
The Roughnecks: Six lower-class boys. They were seen as "troublemakers" and "headed for prison." When caught by police, they were often hostile and defensive.
1. Why were the "Saints" able to escape the label of "deviant" despite committing the same acts as the "Roughnecks"? (List at least two factors).
2. How did the community's label affect the "Roughnecks'" future? Use the term Secondary Deviance in your answer.
2 NEW SCENARIO: The "Fresh Start" Program
"Two students, Alex and Jordan, both cheat on a history midterm. Alex is a star athlete with a 4.0 GPA. Jordan has struggled with attendance and has a history of small disciplinary issues. The teacher finds out. Alex is given a stern warning and told 'this isn't like you.' Jordan is sent to the principal's office, given a zero, and placed on academic probation. Jordan starts hanging out with other students who have 'given up' on school."
Which student is more likely to experience a change in their Master Status? Why?
How might this scenario lead to Secondary Deviance for the student you chose above?
The Big Question
If deviance is created by social reaction, can we ever truly be "objective" when judging someone's behavior? Explain your stance.
DEVIANCE & SOCIAL CONTROL: MODULE 2
Social Control Slides SOCIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
Mechanisms of Conformity
LESSON 3: MAINTAINING ORDER
The Big Question
Most of the time, most people follow most of the rules. WHY?
Internal Control
Because we want to.
External Control
Because we have to.
INTERNAL CONTROL: The Conscience
Socialization
We internalize norms during childhood. They become part of our own moral compass.
Self-Regulation
We follow rules even when NO ONE is watching because we would feel guilt or shame if we didn't.
External Control: Sanctions
INFORMAL
Spontaneous reactions from peers and family.
Smiles, praise, inclusion
Gossip, shaming, "The Look"
Formal
Authorized reactions from official organizations (schools, courts, jobs).
Promotions, high grades, medals
Fines, prison, expulsion
Which is stronger?
"Informal social control is often more effective than formal laws because we care deeply about our reputation among those we know."
Think about it:
Are you more likely to stop doing something because you might get a ticket, or because your friends will think you're a jerk?
Discussion: The Power of Shame in the Digital Age
Social Control Map Activity Social Control Blueprint
System Mapping & Analysis // v1.0
Subject:
Sector:
Component 01: Internal Regulation
Identify three rules you follow even when there is zero chance of being caught. Why have you internalized these specific norms?
A.
B.
C.
Component 02: External Sanctions
Map the control mechanisms in different social sectors. Provide specific examples of sanctions (consequences) for deviance.
SECTOR: SCHOOL
Formal Sanctions
Informal Sanctions
SECTOR: DIGITAL
Formal Sanctions
Informal Sanctions
Component 03: Efficacy Analysis
In your opinion, which is more effective at preventing bullying in school: Formal detention/suspension or Informal peer shaming/exclusion? Why?
How does "Anonymity" (online or in a crowd) affect the social control system? Which types of control break down first?
System Redesign
Describe a behavior that is currently legal (e.g., cutting in line, being rude to waitstaff) but that you believe needs a better social control mechanism. What NEW formal or informal sanction would you design to fix it?
System End Transmission // Social Control Protocol 03-A
Shifting Norms Slides FIELD REPORT 04
Shifting Norms
The Relativity of Deviance
Is Deviance Universal?
Is an act always deviant, no matter where or when it happens?
"What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly."
— Morticia Addams (but sociologically relevant!)
Case Study: Tipping
In the US, NOT tipping at a restaurant is seen as deviant behavior. In Japan, tipping can be seen as insulting or confusing.
The Act: Leaving money on a table.
The Meaning: Varies by culture.
Ethnocentrism
Judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.
"Our way is the right way."
Cultural Relativism
Understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment.
"Context is everything."
DEVIANCE IN THE REARVIEW
CIGARETTES
1950s: Glamorous, doctors recommended it. 2020s: Highly deviant in many social settings, banned in public spaces.
ALCOHOL
1920s: A criminal act (Prohibition). 2020s: A normal, socialized part of adult life.
MENTAL ILLNESS
Historically: "Deviant" or "sinful" behavior often led to institutionalization. Today: Understood as a medical/health condition.
The Relativity Challenge
Your mission is to find behavior that is considered normal in one culture but deviant in another.
Food Habits
Clothing
Gestures
Global Norm Inquiry Activity FIELD RESEARCH LOG: 04-RELATIVITY
Global Norm Inquiry
Documenting the relativity of deviance
Researcher:
Location:
Choose a country or culture significantly different from your own. Research a behavior that is considered normal there but might be considered deviant (weird, rude, or immoral) in the United States—or vice-versa.
Target Culture/Country
Selected Behavior Category
Dining
Work
Social Space
In the United States:
Describe the social reaction to this behavior in the US.
In Target Culture:
Describe the social reaction to this behavior there.
Sociological Reflection
1. Explain how Ethnocentrism might lead a traveler to judge this behavior unfairly. How would a Cultural Relativist explain it instead?
2. Does this research change how you view "common sense" behavior? Why do we often think our culture's norms are "natural" rather than learned?
Field Verified
Module 04 // Relativity In Context
Deviance and Power Slides Deviance & Power
Who defines the law?
Deviance vs. Crime
DEVIANCE
Violations of social norms (folkways/mores)
CRIME
Violations of codified law
The Overlap
Acts that are both deviant and illegal (e.g., robbery, assault).
Not all deviance is a crime, and not all crimes are perceived as deviant.
CONFLICT THEORY
"The law is a tool used by the powerful to maintain their positions and control the less powerful."
Rules are created by those in power to protect their interests.
The "deviant" label is applied unevenly across different social classes.
KEY QUESTION
"Does the law protect society as a whole, or just the interests of those who write it?"
Street Crime
Committed by lower social classes
Burglary, Drug possession, Assault
Highly visible
Immediate police response
Typical Outcome
Prison time, permanent criminal record.
White-Collar
Committed by upper social classes
Embezzlement, Fraud, Insider trading
Invisible / Behind desks
Civil court response
Typical Outcome
Fines, house arrest, loss of license.
The Disparity: Which costs society more money? Which is punished more harshly?
The Synthesis
Deviance is not a fixed reality. It is a shifting boundary defined by Culture , enforced by Systems , and often manipulated by Power .
The Justice Gap Worksheet Case File: The Justice Gap
Confidential / Educational Use
Assigned To:
Date of Filing:
EXHIBIT A
Street-Level Theft
Description: A 22-year-old individual enters a convenience store, brandishes a firearm, and demands the contents of the cash register. They flee with $1,200 in cash. No physical injuries occur, but the clerk is severely traumatized. The individual is caught 48 hours later with most of the cash.
EXHIBIT B
Corporate Fraud
Description: A 55-year-old Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a mid-sized shipping company creates a series of shell companies and "ghost employees." Over three years, they embezzle $1,200,000 into personal offshore accounts. The theft is discovered during an internal audit. The money is mostly gone, spent on luxury travel and real estate.
Comparative Analysis Matrix
Criteria Exhibit A (Street) Exhibit B (White-Collar) Primary Harm Social Label (Deviance) Typical Legal Outcome
Counsel Reflection
1. Why does society tend to view Exhibit A as more "dangerous" and "deviant" than Exhibit B, even though Exhibit B involves 1,000x more stolen money?
2. Apply Conflict Theory : How does the social status and power of the individuals in these cases influence their interaction with the law?
3. If you were a lawmaker tasked with "closing the gap," what specific change would you make to the criminal justice system to ensure both crimes are treated with equal weight?
Equity in Jurisprudence
Sequence Completion // Defining Deviance 05
