Social deviance is any transgression of socially established norms. Social norms can be defined as the way our values or moral belief tell us to act. In general, underage drinking is a formal deviance meaning that it is a violation of the laws enacted by society. Within the college culture however, underage drinking can be seen as a informal deviance, an informal violation of social norms, while for others it is the social norm. Underage drinking can be viewed as the norm because it is so widely accepted between different groups in terms of ethnicity and gender. Religious beliefs can be a factor for those who believe that underage drinking breaks the social norm. Some people may have such religious beliefs, but due to social influences they may partake in this act. Friends play a big part in the decisions that we make. Being a part of a group may influence your choices. Sutherland’s Differential Association principle defines this by stating that there is tendency toward conformity which depends on those around you and that we learn behavior in a group. Through this idea we can see that many college students may participate in underage drinking due to the fact that their social circle and peers are doing so.
No comments:
Post a Comment