Deviance

Abstract

WHAT IS DEVIANCE? As was mentioned in the Culture chapter, a norm is a set of expected behaviors for a given social status. In most societies, the majority of people conform to the most important norms most of the time. For example, wearing casual clothes to class is normal on many campuses. Attending class in your bikini might not be normal at most US colleges or universities. Deviance is not as easily defined and established as some might think, especially if you are sensitive to cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. Deviance is a violation of norms that typically elicits a response from someone. It is also important to note that deviance is not always a bad or negative act. For example, Rosa Parks refusing to get up from her seat on a bus eventually sparked an entire social movement. Her single act was a deviant one.