Social Deviance Is A Term That Refers To Forms Of Behaviour And Qualities Of Per

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Term Paper Title	Social Deviance Is A Term That Refers To Forms Of Behaviour And Qualities Of Per
# of Words	1280
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.12

Social deviance is a term that refers to forms of behaviour and qualities of persons

that others in society devalue and discredit. So what exactly is deviance? In this

particular essay we are concerned with social deviance. Not physiological

deviations from the expected norm. In general, any behaviour that does not

conform to social norms is deviance. That is behaviour that violates significant

social norms and is disapproved of by a large number of people as a result.

For societies to run with some semblance of order the problem of deviance is

essential and intrinsic to any conception of social order. It is problematic because it

causes a disruption, but it is essential because it defines our boundaries as a

society. It is intrinsic to a conception of order in that defining what is real and

expected, defining what is acceptable, and defining who we are - always done in

opposition to what is unreal, unexpected, unacceptable and who we are not. If we

can accept the reality of change, then designations of deviance are crucial in

locating the shifting boundaries of our socially structured reality. (Erikson, 1964)

What is perceived as deviant behaviour is subject to change depending on our

position, place and time. Different cultures have different levels of social order and

control, therefore making what can be seen as a deviant behaviour in one culture

highly acceptable in another.

When we define someone or some group as deviant - we strengthen our own

position and simplify our response to the "other": we can ignore, expunge,

destroy, or rehabilitate them. We convince ourselves of our own normalcy by

condemning and controlling those who disagree. Deviance is a phenomenon

situated in power: Winners are the good and the normal; Losers are the sick, the

crazy, the evil. Deviance, therefore exists in opposition to those who attempt to

control it - to those who have power. (Phofl, 1994)

Deviance is not a matter of the cost or consequences of a particular behaviour, or

the behaviour itself. Deviance is a label used to maintain the power, control, and

position of a dominant group. It is a negotiated order. Deviance violates

some groups assumptions about reality (social order). It violates expectations. The

definition of deviance defines the threat and allows for containment and control of

the threat. The definition of deviance preserves, protects, and defines group

interests and in doing so maintains a ...

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