During this fourth week, we are examining why most people tend to conform in most of their social interactions, while others deviate from the existing social norms. After you have read the reading assignment and lecture for this week, please respond to all parts of the discussion by the due date assigned:
- Review the section on Asch’s Research from your textbook. Describe why the individuals in the Asch experiment usually gave the same answer when they probably knew that it was wrong. How do social control and social bonding explain conformity?
- While the pressure to conform is intense, people continue to deviate. Using either Mertons Strain Theory or Beckers Labeling Theory, explain why some people choose to become deviant.
- Finally, major crimes occur in our society. Pick a current event (local or national) and describe the crime. Analyze the crime in terms of Durkheims four major functions of deviance.
