CONCEPT NOTE 1

ORGANIZATION OF SOCIETY
Man as a social being needs other people to realize his dreams. He cannot survive
without the help of other people. Hence, people play different roles in society in order to
attain economic development 'as well as peace and stability. The role and interaction of
different agents of socialization are very important in the holistic development of every
individual. They help in creating productive and law-abiding members of society.
However, there are different factors that influence and affect man's capacity to become
a good member of society. Poverty as well as unemployment is the root cause of man's
non-conformity with the existing norms of society manifested in various forms of
deviance. Socially defined standards are violated since moral standards change over
time and vary from one society or group to another. Ideas of what is deviant vary and
change (Palispis 2009,p. 209). Crime and juvenile delinquency are examples of
deviance that affect the social conditions of our society.
The role of social groups is essential in providing support system to the members of
society. The social and moral formation of every member 'serves as an avenue in
creating a healthy and dynamic society. According to Fichter, every group has norms of
behavior that influence the way in which roles are enacted. These need not be written
rules or regulations, but they are usually patterns of behavior which are understood and
followed by the members. Thus, there are established bases for different groups which
help in their classification such as common ancestry, territorial proximity, bodily
characteristics, and common interest. These facets help in understanding how groups
are organized and bow members are connected or related to one another.

Socialization

Man as a social being needs other people to survive. We develop ourselves as human
beings through our social interaction. Socialization is a continuing process where by an
individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and
social skills appropriate to his and her social position (http:/www.dictionary.com). The
process of socialization is very essential because it teaches us how to behave and act
within our society. Hence, it is a continuous process in life. As people move from one
stage to another such as from childhood to adolescence, from adulthood to old age, or
from one group to another, they discard old ways of behaving and learn new patterns of
behavior (Panopio, 1994 p. 91). Socialization can be described from two points of view:
objectively and subjectively (Palispis, 2007 p. 108).

Objective Socialization

> It refers to the society acting upon the child.

Subjective Socialization

> The process by which society transmits its culture from one generation to the next and
adapts the individual to the Socialization accepted and approved ways of organized
social life.
Socialization continues to be an important part of human development. It is an
instrument on how an individual will adapt to his existing environment in order to
survive. The process of socialization enables the individual to grow and function socially
(Medina, 1991 p.47). Hence, the change in man's social reality modifies his culture.
Sociologists say that the culture becomes 'internalized"', that the individual "'imbibes' it,
and that in this s way, "from the inside" it continues to influence his conduct
(Palispis,2007p. 112). The importance of socializations is very vital in man's daily life.

Agents of Socialization

Socialization will not be take place without the agents of socialization. These refer to the
various social groups or social institutions that play a significant role in introducing and
integrating the individual as an accepted and functioning member of society (Banaag,
2012 p. 138).
The agents of socialization guide every individual in understanding what is happening in
our society. People learn to determine what is proper, right or wrong, appropriate and
inappropriate. Social norms were formed in order to control individual behavior in a
given society. They are usually in a form of rules or prescriptions followed by people
who obey certain standards or roles in society. The norms include society's standards of
morality, good manners, legality, and integrity. The following are forms of social norms:

FOLKWAYS

These are the customary patterns that specify what is socially correct and proper in
everyday life.
> They are the repetitive or the typical habits and patterns of expected behavior
followed within a group of community.

MORES

> They define what is morally right and morally wrong.

> These are folkways with ethical and moral significance which are strongly held and
emphasized.

LAWS

>These are norms that are enforced formally by a special political organization
> Component of culture that regulates and controls the peoples behavior and conduct.

Conformity and Deviance

The identification of oneself in society is always relative to his/her existing environment.

Social role must be performed in connection with the expected behavior. Erving
Goffman, in his book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, tried to show how
certain social processes modify the presentation of self and the impact of role
expectations on the behavior of an individual. To Goffman, everyone is consciously
playing a role. When persons present themselves to others in everyday interaction, they
organize their overt behavior in such a way as to guide and control the impressions
others form of them to elicit role-taking response (Panopio, et. al, 1994 p. 99) More so, it
is a process of conformity where individuals attempt to change his/her behavior
because of the desire to conform with defined social norm. Kelman (1958) distinguished
between the different types of conformity: compliance, internalization, identification, and
ingratiational.

1. Compliance (or group acceptance)

This occurs 'when an individual accepts influence because he hopes to achieve a
favorable reaction from another person or group. He adopts the induced behavior
because he expects to gain specific rewards or approval and avoids specific
punishment or disapproval by conformity (Kelman, 1958, p. 53)
2. Internalization (genuine acceptance of group norms)
This occurs when an individual accepts influence because the content of the induced
behavior - the ideas and actions of which it is composed- is intrinsically rewarding. He
adopts the induced behavior because it is congruent or consistent with his value system'
(Kelman, 1958, p. 53). Internalization always involves public and private conformity. A
person publicly changes his behavior to fit in with the group, while also agreeing with
others privately. This is the deepest level of conformity where the beliefs of the group
become part of the individual's own belief system.
3. Identification (or group membership)
This occurs when an individual accepts influence because he wants to establish or
maintain a satisfying self-defining relationship to another person or group" (Kelman,
1958, p. 53). Individuals conform to the expectations of a social role, e.g. nurses, police
officers. It is similar to compliance as there does not have to be a change in private
opinion.
4. Ingratiational
This is when a person conforms to impress or gain favor/acceptance from other people.
It is similar to normative influence, but is motivated by the need for social rewards rather
than the threat of rejection, i.e., group pressure does not enter the decision to conform.
On the other hand, nonconformity of an individual would mean deviation from
acceptable social norms which is known as social deviance. Social deviance refers any
behavior that differs or diverges from established social norms (Banaag, 2012 144). The
concept of deviance is complex because norms vary considerably across prop% times,
and places. In other words, what one group may consider acceptable, another consider
deviant (wwwcliffsnotes.com).

Sociological Theories of Deviance

1.Functionalist Theory
According to Emile Durkheim, deviance can serve a number of functions for society. He
asserted that there is nothing abnormal in deviance. He gave four major functions of
deviance:
a Deviance affirms cultural values and norms.
b. Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundary.
c. Responding to deviance promotes social unity.
d. Deviance encourages social change.
2. Strain Theory
Robert Merton argued that in an unequal society the tension or strain between
socially approved goals and an individuals
individual's ability to meet those goals through socially approved means will lead to
deviance as individuals reject either the goals, the means, or both.
Merton gave the following forms of deviance that emerge from strain (Palispis 2007, p.
218-219):
a. Conformity -It involves accepting both the cultural goal of success and the use of
legitimate means for achieving that goal.
b. Innovation -This response involves accepting the goal of success but rejecting the use
of socially accepted means of achieving it, turning instead to unconventional, illegitimate
means.
C. Ritualism - This occurs when people deemphasize or reject the importance of
success once they realize they will never achieve it and instead concentrate on
following or enforcing these rules than ever was intended.
d. Retreatism - This means withdrawal from society, caring neither about success nor
about working.
e. Rebellion -This occurs when people reject and attempt to change both the
goals and the means approved by society.

3. Control Theory
Travis Hirschi assumed that the family school. and other social institutions can
greatly contribute to social order by controlling deviant tendencies in very individual.

Social Control of Deviance

In order to regulate nonconformity* with the social norms, society created measures in
order to limit deviance. Social control refers to the efforts of a group or society to
regulate the behavior of its members in conformity with established norms (Palispis,
2007 p. 22) Social control includes the use of behavioral restraints to encourage people
to follow set social expectations.
There are two types of sanctions:
Informal Sanction
> These are unofficial, often casual pressures to conform.
> Positive informal sanctions involve reward for conformity or compliance. Examples
are: smiles, kiss, an affirmation, or words of approval.
> Negative sanctions or informal sanctions involve penalties for not conforming. These
may take the form of ridicule, ostracism, rejection, or even expulsion from the group.
Formal Sanction
These are official, institutionalized incentives to conform and penalties for deviance.
> These are needed in large, complex societies.
> The criminal justice system is the most important and visible institution of social
control. These may take the form of arrest, pre-trial, sentencing, or imprisonment.
Human Rights and Dignity

Human rights are natural rights of all human beings whatever their nationality, religion,
ethnicity, sex, language, and color. We are equally entitled to our human rights without
discrimination (www.ohchr.org). Hence, human rights are inalienable rights that protect
our dignity as human beings. There are different kinds of rights people enjoy in a
democratic society, namely:

1. Natural Rights
These are rights inherent to man and given to him by God as human being. Examples
of these rights are the right to live, love and be happy.
2. Constitutional Rights
These are the rights guaranteed under the fundamental charter of the country.
Examples of these rights are the rights against unreasonable searches and seizures,
the rights against bill of attainder, and the rights safeguarding the accused under the Bill
Of rights.
3. Statutory Rights
These are rights provided by the lawmaking body of a country or by law, such as
the right to receive a minimum wage and the right to preliminary investigation.
4. Civil Rights
These are rights specified under the Bill Of Rights, such as freedom of speech, right to
information. These are rights enjoyed by an individual by virtue of his citizenship in a
state or community.
5. Economic Rights
These are rights to property, whether personal, real, or intellectual. Some examples of
these rights include the following: right to use and dispose his property, right to practice
one's profession, and right to make a living.
6. Political Rights
These are rights an individual enjoys as a consequence of being a member of a body
politic. Some examples of political rights are the following: right to vote and right to be
voted into public office.