Consider the social process and social reaction theories discussed and think
about your own conformity and/or deviant behavior. Do any of the theories
resonate with you? I think that the biggest theory that has a lot of social control over me is the labeling theory. I have this immense fear of what other people think of me and this can deter me from doing deviant acts. For example, my mom and I have a big trust that we have built up over the years. When my friends wanted to do a risky act I would most likely not go or do it because I don’t know what the consequences of that action would do to that trust. On top of that, she has also labeled me her easy child which I have felt that I need to uphold, I don’t want to get into trouble and have to burden my mom with me not being the “easy child” for her anymore. this could also tie into the social bond theory that fear or work of losing a bond that I have that’s very dear to me. For example, if you are mostly a conformist, do social control theories help to explain why? As a conformist, I think that social control has made a big difference in what deviant acts people may pursue if society is looking at your less likely to commit a crime unless you don’t have any regard for what society thinks then I don’t think that it would stop anyone. I think people would do things of their own free will because they can. If you have engaged in deviant behavior, but have avoided being labeled,
would your current circumstances be different had you been publicly labeled? I think that they would have been different if I wasn’t being labeled I may have continued to do deviant things of my own free will. on the other hand labeling and the judgment of other would have deterred me from doing those kinds of acts and I would be more of a conformist. If you have engaged in criminal or deviant behavior, to what extent was it learned? if I have been involved in criminal behavior it was likely to avoid being labeled by my peers that I’m with, they want to do something deviant and I’ll follow because I don’t want to be labeled lame or scared.