DEVIANCE
What is deviance?
Deviance is how someone would describe a person that does bad things. But, what is classified as bad? The definition of deviance can change depending on what the societal norms are to you. In class we learned about a tribe of people that walked around naked, chewed on tobacco, and wiped their noses with their hands. (When pointing out that their hands were dirty, the people of the tribe would spit in their hands then wipe the dirt in their hair).
When hearing about this, my class was appalled! When my teacher asked us if these people were deviants, we immediately answered yes! But then I started to think, "What would they think of someone like me?" I'm a teenage girl with long, curly hair, freckles, and no piercings/tattoos. They would probably think I was a deviant. Then the conversation got more interesting.
My class took a deviance quiz. We were asked several questions, such as:
Do you drink/smoke? If so, how much?
Do you have piercings/tattoos?
Have you ever driven over the speed limit or gotten a ticket?
Some of these things I would not consider deviance, but by the definition of deviance, if you go 5 miles per hour over the speed limit, you are breaking the law, therefore, you are a deviant.
By this definition, I am a deviant. I have gone over the speed limit, I have cheated on a test, I have lied to my parents- but are these really considered acts of deviance in our society?
With this in mind, would you consider yourself a deviant? Why or why not?
-ab(BAE)
I think if we really used the word deviant as it is defined, every person on this planet would be one. We all break the rules at some time or another. This brings up a really good question that you acknowledged: are these acts then considered deviant is everyone does it? I would say no. Everyone would be a deviant by this standard and then deviant would be synonymous with human. It wouldn't have any meaning.
ReplyDeleteI don't think these are acts of deviance to teenagers. It is almost expected for teenagers to do reckless things such as speeding or cheating. Like those old people always say stuff like "oh , he/she is just a teenager". When that behavior is expected of teenagers, then I don't consider it deviance anymore.
ReplyDeleteSo the norm for teenagers now is for them to be deviant? Who do you consider to be "old people?" Just curious...
DeleteIn our generations eye's, the acts of speeding, or lying, would not be considered an act of deviance. Drugs and alcohol have been an increasing problem occurring in my view, so I believe the people being involved in these acts are far more deviant than people who only
ReplyDeletelie.