Question by KCMO girl: Why do you think most college students regard binge drinking as a normal rather than deviant behavior?
Which do you think would be more effective in stopping binge drinking on a campus, informal or formal social control and why?
This is strictly speaking from a sociological perspective
Best answer:
Answer by Nile Dave
It is to do with their social surrounding and the sub-culture they are in. A sub-culture is a group within a culture that shares some of the values with the wider culture but with distinct differences. The fact that most citizens find binge drinking to be deviant means that it goes against their social norm, it is considered to be an odd behaviour. The fact that most college students (generalising) binge drink means that it is within their norm (normal behaviour) due to their sub-culture and find it normal and not deviant. This also works in the converse, if you went to a party and didn’t drink, it would go against the social norm and you would look odd. People who are deviant are labelled (Becker 1976).
Informal social control – if you stuck posters on a wall and made new legislation’s for the campus then would everyone follow? The fact that everyone is binge drinking in the first place and being deviant indicates that a different informal approach is needed to influence their behaviour and change their perception. Whilst one-to-one shock sessions may work, it is too expensive and time consuming to do so a informal means needed. Maybe getting some of the leaders of a social group to not drink or to start a charity campaign — like give money to charity instead to alcohol would help as it affects people on a deeper level, but definitely informal social control as this is the most persuasive technique to affect social norms.As more people not drink, it adds pressure to those that do and leads to anxiety and pressure (Holmes and Rahe 1976) and they will be considered deviant.
What do you think? Answer below!
because they don’t have much responsibility and find drinking fun.