1. CONFORMITY AND ALIENATION

2. Alienation
Alienation is defined to mean emotional dissociation and isolation and is marked by an inability to follow the rules of society or share in the values in society.
Alienation is said to occur because people have difficulty adapting to societal change

3. Alienation
Emile Durkheim
Durkheim lived in a society in tremendous state of change (industrial revolution)
Used the term “anomie” to describe the condition of industrial workers who seemed to live without any roots or norms

4. Contemporary Examples Of Alienation
Joining of cults or gangs
Anarchy/ Extremism - set out to destroy the society which they live through armed struggle
Terrorists

5. Conformity
Conformity can be defined as adjusting one's behavior or thinking to match other people.
Many reasons why people conform, including the desire to be accepted by others

6. Conformity
Informational Influence- is the human desire to accept information that another admired person tells us is valid
Parent or friend tell you that smoking is bad for your health

7. Conformity
Normative Influence- is the pressure to conform to the positive expectations of other.
E.g. some people take jobs because they feel like they are expected to.

8. Alienation And Conformity
Forces Of Social Change
Alienation can cause positive change
Women’s movement was about change because of disatisfaction with social roles

9. Alienation And Conformity
Forces Of Social Change
Conformity has a tendency to discourage social change.
E.g trying a new hairstyle
Nervous about reaction of others stifles desire to change