Kids. Parents. Deviance.

Defining Deviance. Parents guide.

Trying to define deviant behavior is much like trying to take down a rainbow and dust it. You can come away with hands full of confusion and figments of your imagination. Deviance can be, and is, used as a synonym for counterculture, subculture, madness, criminality, badness, abnormality and various other disparaging terms. However, it can also be genius, beauty, talent and exceptionally unique skill. Anyone who is different from the norm is deviant. They diverge from the normal or average. Let's look at some of the definitions for deviance.

In 1966, Cohen suggests the following nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives are often associated with deviance "knavery, skullduggery, cheating unfairness, crime, sneakiness, betrayal, graft, corruption, wickedness and sin." The Free Dictionary -- Medical Dictionary describes a deviant as:

One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

Chambliss' study indicates there may be a self-fulfilling prophecy effect when one is labeled (i.e. deviant). Therefore, is someone deviant or merely living up to a label that has been imposed on him by society? This would mean that deviance might not exist without a society to apply the label. It is an interesting theory but it doesn't take us anywhere. Without society, rules are unnecessary. We would be living as individuals or in single family units without a connection, good or bad. Though, as we have all seen, individuals can, on a smaller more intimate scale, be "different" or injurious in a family setting. Deviance within the family unit is probably the most painful circumstance for every member of that family. "Victims" are readily available and the very young, old and/or impaired are virtually defenseless.

Blake and Davine (1964, p. 456) assert that deviance is:

... what human beings should or should not think, say, or do under given circumstances.

This leads us to believe, quite correctly, that behavior which is perfectly acceptable in one situation or circumstance is not acceptable under other conditions. It is quite suitable to wear two and three ounces of clothing on the beach. In fact, many counties scarcely raise a collective, disapproving eyebrow over throng bearing sun worshippers. Whereas, such attire in the office or boardroom would not enhance one's likelihood of promotion, or even still being employed when the whistle blows at five o'clock. Naturally, this example has exceptions, what if one worked for Playboy or Hustler Magazine? More often than not, circumstances must be considered in determining the cultural acceptability of a specific behavior or cluster of behaviors.

According to Alexander Liazos in his article "The Poverty of the Sociology of Deviance: Nuts, Sluts and Perverts", the studies done in the field of deviance are seriously lacking. Liazos strongly suggest that we should be equally interested in institutional deviance or violence, rather than focusing the majority of our academic or political attention on individual acts. We will not explore institutional deviance as a separate topic in this book; however, you may wish to do other readings. Dr. Liazos article is a rewarding place to begin. As we attempt to define deviance we must be aware that individual deviance exists in a larger context of violent and disruptive behaviors.

In 1965 J. L. Simmons, surveyed a sample of 180 persons and asked them to "list those things or types of persons whom you regard as deviant." You might be surprised at their choices: homosexuals (49%), drug addicts (47%), alcoholics (46%), prostitutes (27%) and murders (22%). You probably are as surprised as I am that half of the individuals surveyed, 90 people, said homosexuals were deviant, but only 22% mentioned murders. Unfortunately, it does not appear that this survey has not been repeated recently. It would be interesting to compare the lists. As you can see, deviance varies from individual to individual and group to group. A gang member might sincerely believe wearing a suit and tie was an unfathomable deviant behavior. Those of us who are not gang members might consider wearing regulation gang colors, having a criminal record and owning a variety of deadly weapons deviant. Perspective is everything.

Computer E-Deviance

In the 21st Century deviant behavior has gone where the "actions is" - on-line. A recent research study, by the software giant Microsoft, surveyed 497 respondents and discovered that deviant behavior is not only face to face but computer to computer. When asked how frequently "bad behavior" occurs on-line 66 % of the respondents answered either often or very often. Only 4 percent answered "never" or "seldom" (obviously optimists). Fifty-nine percent of the participants believe that anonymity emboldens deviant behavior. When one sits alone, hiding behind his or her computer, outrageous behavior is relatively safe. Forty-three percent of respondents thought deviant behavior was fueled by a desire for attention. Perceived motivation behind someone's behavior influences how individuals perceive the actor. This explains much about our legal system.

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