The Problem of Conformity: Achieving Cooperation

1. The Problem of Conformity: Achieving Cooperation Durkheim on Deviance The problem of convincing individuals to operate in non-rational cooperation: Classic Prisoner’s Dilemma Problem solved? Pre-Contractual Solidarity: The collective sense of belonging to a community & The related sense of obligation to the welfare of the community

2. Achieving Cooperation (Pre-contractual) Solidarity • Experienced at multiple levels • Individual Level: Social Bond • Collective/Structural Level: Solidarity • What creates social solidarity? Social Integration

3. Achieving Cooperation Social Integration 2 kinds of Integration: • Normative (cultural) integration • Achieved by processes of internalization of collective sentiments • To internalize a belief system is to adopt it as one’s own • Structural integration • Achieved by one’s position within a social structure; one’s embeddedness in a network of relationships • Marginalized groups less likely to be structurally integrated – leads to deviance defined by dominant groups • Structural Integration determines the social location from which cultural learning takes place: integration takes place in segregated social locations

4. Solidarity & Historical Context • Historical context for Durkheim? Industrial Revolution • Complexity of Groups varies directly with the Degree of Differentiation (esp. Structural Diff.) • Industrial Revolution rapidly increases complexity of society • Historical shift from Mechanical to Organic Social Organization (or solidarity)

5. Types of Solidarity • Mechanical Solidarity • Based on concrete experience. Consensus is generated from shared experiences; force. • Implies a low level of structural differentiation. • Organic Solidarity • Based more on abstractness of social values • Also based on structural dependency (promoted by division of labor, social complexity & diversity) • What does this mean for forging consensus? • Results in generally weaker bonding than Mechanical Solidarity Rituals provide one way to share/reinforce collective sentiments (values, beliefs, norms of community) What are some of the potential outcomes of a shift from Mechanical to Organic solidarity? Increases in (often associated with urbanism)… - Anomie - Norm Conflicts - Social Mobility - Individualism - Materialism

6. Individual Level Integration Produced by the Social Bond Social Bonding has 2 purposes: • Attachment to socially given needs & ideals • Regulation of desires, aspiration, & appetite Bonds result in: • Sense of belonging to a community • Sense of obligation for the collective good All social systems (groups) must provide the mechanisms for successful bonding. Mechanisms must be powerful and mutually healthy for individuals & the group. The burden is on the system to provide for bonding How is this accomplished? Socialization

7. Contemporary US Society Marked by Organic Solidarity • Complex • Diverse • Bonding less strong • What is the nature of American collective sentiments? What are our values as a collective? • Social Integration at the societal level is less complete • Outcome: less consensus, more conflict • Leads to advent of Conflict Approaches to Deviance