6 Questions
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes negative deviance from positive deviance?
Failure to meet accepted norms
What is the outcome of positive deviance?
Imbalance and extremes of perfectionism
What is the behavior of negative deviants in relation to norms?
They reject or misinterpret norms
What is the result of negative deviance in relation to personal appearance in American society?
Obesity
What is the main difference between positive and negative deviance?
One involves over-conformity and the other involves under-conformity
What is the common outcome of both positive and negative deviance?
Disruption and difficulty in management
Study Notes
Deviance Types
- Deviance can be either negative or positive.
Negative Deviance
- Involves behavior that fails to meet accepted norms.
- People exhibiting negative deviance may: • Reject the norms • Misinterpret the norms • Be unaware of the norms
- This type of behavior is commonly associated with the concept of deviance.
Positive Deviance
- Involves over-conformity to norms, leading to imbalance and extremes of perfectionism.
- Positive deviants idealize group norms.
- Positive deviance can be as disruptive and hard to manage as negative deviance.
- Examples: • The norm of personal appearance in American society, where the media promotes extreme thinness, leading to: • Negative deviants becoming obese • Positive deviants developing anorexia
Key Concepts
- Deviance departs from norms.
- Negative deviance uncovers unacceptable norms.
- Positive deviance over-expects norms.
Test your understanding of deviance, a concept in sociology that involves behavior that violates cultural norms. Explore the differences between negative and positive deviance.
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