Every social group has "correctional systems"—ways of dealing with deviants. Prisons are only an obvious, formal example of a correctional mechanism. In certain religious groups, shunning (refusing to talk to, or even acknowledge, a former member of the group) is a form of punishment and correction, used when a member goes astray. It can be devastating, cutting people off from family members who—remaining faithful to the belief system—are not allowed to converse with the shunned person.
How do groups commonly deal with deviants?
A common element in the correctional practices of most social systems is exclusion from group membership as a form of punishment. This is a solution of last resort, because it reduces group membership. Often it is preceded by a warning or probationary stage. Consider the following correctional practices in different social organizations:
