Social deviance describes a set of behaviors that do not align with the expectations and norms of a specific society. Since the traditions, history, and culture of each nation are different, the type of behavior that is considered deviant may vary. Oftentimes, the deviant behavior that is of the utmost concern is the type that puts other people at risk of harm. In this regard, criminal activity is socially deviant behavior. Criminals often work in opposition to the values of society, either out of need or desire. The actions of such individuals are a detriment to the larger society and its inhabitants, resulting in physical harm, emotional or financial damage. Social deviance in the form of criminal activity actively exacerbates society’s problems and threatens the stable survival and prosperity of society.
Another type of social deviance is non-criminal deviance, which is characterized by an inability or a lack of desire to adhere to established social norms. In and of themselves, such forms of deviancy are not problematic and can be used to actively promote change for the better. However, one of the main defining traits of deviancy is that it is met with resistance. Harm and discrimination directed towards deviants contributes to the larger social divide and contribute to lessening the well-being of people that do not fit in.
The social problem I have decided on covering is the intolerance and the societal rift created by differences between deviant and non-deviant individuals. Society is a multi-faceted and complicated machine that functions due to the continued cooperation between people of various social standings and walks of life. Rift in this mechanism caused by prejudice, lack of understanding, selfishness, or lack of consideration takes a considerable toll on its operation and needs to be effectively managed and minimized. Differences in behaviors are one of the biggest sources of disagreement in the population. Following tradition and rules set by previous generations, formal and informal rules are considered to be important by many individuals. The stereotypes perpetuated by the media and extreme causes of social deviancy make regular people unsympathetic people that are different from them. An inability to reach an understanding hinders a deviant’s ability to meaningfully contribute to society and promotes a hostile relationship between the groups (The Functionalist Perspective on Deviance). These kinds of interactions and treatment make it hard for some people with behavioral issues to get the help they require and be potentially re-integrated into society.
The most effective solution to the problem of social deviance, in my opinion, would be loosening the cultural restraints of society and promoting consideration of integration of diverse thought and types of behavior. Non-criminal and non-harmful types of deviancy need to be separated from the historic stigma that accompanies them and is more widely accepted as a legitimate way of living a person’s life. In many cases, the things that were considered to be deviant or socially unacceptable, or immoral a decade ago are now as much part of the larger society as any other. That is especially evident with raising awareness of the mental illness, addiction, and the existence of LGBT people (McGee & Johnson, 2015). The fact that individuals whose existence was considered to be detrimental to society and unnatural are now able to be somewhat integrated shows that understanding is one of the best solutions to counteracting deviancy. Other approaches, such as punishment and treatment were shown to be ineffective, as they have failed to make a significant impact on the deviant individuals (Deviant Behavior).
References
Deviant Behavior. (n.d.). Web.
The Functionalist Perspective on Deviance. (n.d.).
McGee, P., & Johnson, M. (2015). Diversity or deviance: The dilemma of difference. Web.