Question

Deviance is relative, whether a behavior is considered deviant depends on the circumstances surrounding it. What behavior have you seen or experienced that could be considered either deviant or acceptable circumstances? When would this behavior be considered acceptable? When would it be considered deviant?

Answer 1

Deviance is said to be a relative concept and depends on various factors that may be operating in a system that impacts an individual's behavior. For instance, the cultural norms in a certain group/subgroup allows its members to have pre-marital relationships before engaging in a more stable commitment. On the other hand, another cultural group has restrictions regarding the same. The behavior may be same, but its deviance or acceptability may be deciphered by the cultural impact. An individual's behavior is also seen in light of various factors. The overall environmental stimulation may lay down a certain set of expectations from the child. For example, a child who belongs to a family of refugees may be simply expected to adjust the new circumstances & make the best of available opportunities lined up, whereas for a child that belongs to a well-educated & 'stable' family with enriched environmental experiences, the set of expectations laid down may be higher. The child may be looked at from different dimensions & growth in the various domains of her/his life may be critically evaluated. Therefore the behavior is seen in different lights. For the former child to flourish, would be a greater accomplishment on her/his part.

Another example could be the fact that a child from a well established background turns into a juvenile delinquent. This behavior would be deviant, given the circumstances in which she/he has grown up. On the contrary, the child of a prisoner turns into a delinquent, the tendency could be attributed to the genetic/environmental influences. Genetic in this scenario refers to being tempermentally labile of sorts. Therefore, the same set of behavior is relatively more acceptable (rather expected) in one case as opposed to the other.