Deviance refers to the demonstration of a particular behavior that could be different from that of a group or class of individuals. Several factors could make an individual behave differently from their group. Deviant behavior varies from one situation to another, and one could be mild or moderate, whereas another could be severe. At one point, everyone demonstrates a deviant behavior in their lives, and in most situations, these characters have negative consequences. However, what one sees as a deviant behavior, another one could see it as normal. An example of such deviant behavior that I once demonstrated was when I was studying Mathematics exam during an English lesson. What makes this behavior deviant is that other students in the classroom were studying English while I was busy doing something else that did not fit the group.
The consequences of a deviant behavior vary depending on its degree of seriousness. However, social controls exist to encourage conformity to norms and discourage behavior, and these could be internal or external (page 176). Internal controls exist among individuals, and they use them in their everyday lives. Being an English class, everyone knew that they should have the subject’s requirements, such as textbooks and exercise books. The timetable is a useful control that guides students in knowing the subject that would be up next. External social controls at school exist to set forth punishment for nonconformists (page 177). In the situation I was in, I knew that studying Mathematics during an English lesson was wrong and that if found, there would be dire consequences. For instance, being kicked out of the classroom or asked to write a letter explaining the reason for my deviant behavior. In my situation, the deviant behavior was not as severe as cheating on an examination to get better results that would lead to expulsion.
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Deviance plays a significant role in because it leads to a clarification of rules. When society punishes deviant behavior, it demonstrates its commitment to the rules. At the same time, the action clarifies the meanings of the regulations in the context of their applications (page 177). My deviant behavior was intentional because I knew the consequences of it, yet I proceeded with it anyway. The punishment received was being kicked out of the classroom for three consecutive lessons and had to write a letter explaining my behavior. Besides, I had to face the school’s deputy principal for punishment because that was a disciplinary case. In this situation, the punishment served to show that the school punishes deviant behavior; hence reaffirming its commitment to the rules. Thus, deviant behavior is essential because how a body regulating a group demonstrates its obligation and responsibility to ensure an adherence to set regulations.
One approach to studying deviance is the rational choice theory. The model provides that before an individual gets involved in a certain behavior, they evaluate the rewards and risks that could result from it (page 183). Later, they decide on the course of action that they follow, and in most situations, a person believes that their behavior will have positive outcomes. The same case applies to my deviant behavior. On the positive side, I thought that studying for the Mathematics examination will lead to the attainment of better results. On the negative side, the deviant behavior was risky because it would be a disciplinary case. Still, I believed that I acted on my best interest because, in the end, I would have what to write during the examination. Therefore, the rational choice theory provides that the behavior of an individual occurs after they weigh the benefits and costs, yet choose deviance, believing that it will have positive consequences.
