Deviant Behavior Overview, Types & Examples - Study.com

The deviant behavior definition refers to actions or behaviors that violate social norms or expectations. 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Viewbio Instructor YolandaWilliams YolandahastaughtcollegePsychologyandEthics,andhasadoctorateofphilosophyincounseloreducationandsupervision. Viewbio Discoverwhatdeviantbehavioris.Learnabouttheexamplesandtypesofdeviantbehavior.Understanddevianceinsocietyandhowitaffectsculture Updated:04/09/2022 TableofContentsDeviantBehavior:DefinitionandMeaningTypesofDeviantBehaviorDevianceinSocietyDevianceandCultureLessonSummaryShow Createanaccount DeviantBehavior:DefinitionandMeaningThedeviantbehaviordefinitionreferstoactionsorbehaviorsthatviolatesocialnormsorexpectations.Socialnormsareunwrittenrulesthatguidebehaviorandareconsideredacceptablebycertainsocialgroupsorcultures.Thedeviantbehaviormeaningcomesfromtheterm''deviate,''whichmeanstostrayfromanormaloracceptablebehaviororaction.Deviantbehaviorisoftenreferredtoasadeviantaction.Deviantactionsorbehaviorscanbecausedbyavarietyoffactors,suchaspersonalitydisorders,improperlearningabilities,lackofstrongrolemodels,andpoorconditioning.Deviantbehaviorcanbeassimpleasdressingdifferently,suchaswearinggothicclothing,orasseriousasburningsomeone'shousedown.Therearevariousformsofdeviantbehavior,whichcandifferbetweenvaryingsocietiesandcultures. Anerroroccurredtryingtoloadthisvideo. Tryrefreshingthepage,orcontactcustomersupport. YoumustcCreateanaccounttocontinue watching Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher CreateYourAccountToContinueWatching Asamember,you'llalsogetunlimitedaccesstoover84,000 lessonsinmath,English,science,history,andmore.Plus,getpracticetests,quizzes,andpersonalizedcoachingtohelpyou succeed. Getunlimitedaccesstoover84,000lessons. Tryitnow Itonlytakesafewminutestosetupandyoucancancelanytime. Alreadyregistered?Loginherefor access  Back Resourcescreatedbyteachersforteachers Over30,000videolessons &teachingresources‐all inoneplace. Videolessons Quizzes&Worksheets ClassroomIntegration LessonPlans IwoulddefinitelyrecommendStudy.comtomycolleagues.It’slikeateacherwavedamagicwandanddidtheworkforme.Ifeellikeit’salifeline. JenniferB. Teacher Tryitnow Back Comingupnext: HistrionicPersonalityDisorder:Symptoms,Treatment&CaseStudies You'reonaroll.Keepupthegoodwork! TakeQuiz Watch NextLesson  Replay Justcheckingin.Areyoustillwatching? Yes!Keepplaying. Yournextlessonwillplayin 10seconds 0:01DeviantActs:… 1:45Deviance&Culture 2:47LessonSummary Save Save Save Wanttowatchthisagainlater? LoginorsignuptoaddthislessontoaCustomCourse. LoginorSignup Timeline Autoplay Autoplay Speed Speed 23Kviews Video Quiz Course 23K views TypesofDeviantBehaviorTherearetwomaintypesofdeviantbehavior:formalandinformaldeviantbehavior.Formaldeviantbehaviorreferstoactionsthatviolateformallaws,whereasinformaldeviantbehaviorreferstoactionsthatviolatesocialnorms.Bothformalandinformaldeviantbehaviorcanresultinnegativeconsequences.Forexample,formaldeviantbehaviorcanresultinlegalfinesandarrestandinformaldeviantbehaviorcanresultinbeingstigmatizedandostracizedbysociety.DeviantBehaviorExamplesDeviantbehavioriscategorizedaseitherformalorinformalbasedontherulesorsocialnormsthattheactionsorbehaviorsviolate.Formaldeviantbehaviorexamplesinclude: Breakingintoaneighbor'shouse Stealingcandyfromalocalgrocerystore Domesticviolence Drinkingundertheinfluence Drugtrafficking Committingmurder Informaldeviantbehaviorexamplesinclude: Wearingyourunderwearoutsideofyourclothing Burpingloudlyinpublic Standingtooclosetoanotherperson Nosepickinginpublicplaces Showinguplatetoanimportanteventorappointment Talkingwithfoodinthemouth DevianceinSocietyDevianceinsocietycanvarydependingonwhichbehaviorssocietyhasdeemedasdeviantandwhichbehaviorsaredeemedasnormal.Eachsocietymakesitsowndeterminationsregardingdeviantbehaviors.Thereareformallawsandrules,andinformalsocialnormsineachsocietythataimtoprohibitpeoplefromcommittingdeviantacts.Often,peoplewhoengageindeviantactionsorbehaviorsareviewednegativelybysocietyandareusuallypunishedorostracized.Althoughdevianceinsocietyisgenerallyviewedasbeingnegative,therearepositiveaspectsthatcanresultfromdeviantbehaviorinsociety.Forexample,deviantbehaviorcanleadtosocialchange.Itisnotuncommonforabehaviorthatwasonceconsideredasdevianttobeviewedasacceptable.Itcanalsohelppeopletoadjusttocertainchanges,suchaschangesinfashiontrendsorlifestylechanges.Furthermore,devianceinsocietycanallowcertaingroupsandindividualstoraiseawarenessregardingcertainissues.Forexample,holdingralliestogainattentionregardingchildsextrafficking.ExamplesofDeviantActsinSocietyTheactionsorbehaviorsthatonesocietyconsidersasdeviantmaynotbeconsidereddeviantbyanothersociety.Althoughdeviantactsmaydifferbetweensocieties,therearesomeactionsandbehaviorsthatareconsideredunacceptableacrossallsocieties.Examplesofdeviantactsinsocietyinclude: Alcoholism Drugaddiction Eatingdisorders Exploitivesex Gamblingaddiction Self-harm Drinkingalcoholunderthelegalage DevianceandCultureWhatisconsideredadeviantbehaviorcanchangebasedonaperson'sculture.Behaviorsthatareacceptableinoneculturemaybeunacceptableinanotherculture.Forexample,intheUnitedStates,itisacceptablebehaviortogiveathumbsup;however,inRussiaandGreece,thesamegestureisconsideredoffensive.Additionally,intheUnitedStates,itisacceptabletolaughwithyourmouthopen;however,inJapan,itisimpolitetoshowyourteethwhenlaughing.Furthermore,inChina,itisconsidereddeviantbehaviortohuganotherperson;however,intheUnitedStates,huggingisacommonwaytogreetandsaygoodbyetosomeone. Withinthesameculture,aspecificactionorbehaviorcanbeviewedasbothdeviantandacceptable,dependingoncertaincircumstances.Forexample,committingmurderisconsideredadeviantbehavior;however,inwar,murderisnotviewedasadeviantbehavior.Inaddition,itisconsidereddeviantbehaviorforagrownadulttouseapublicrestroommeantfortheoppositegender;however,itisacceptableforachildtousetheoppositegender'srestroomwhenaccompaniedbyaparent.DeviantBehaviorsThatareNowAcceptableTherearevariousbehaviorsandactionsthatwereonceconsidereddeviantbutarenowconsideredacceptable.Theshiftfromdeviantbehaviortoacceptablebehaviorisduetotheevolvementofsocialnorms.Overtime,socialnormscanchangeduetothepassingoflaws,advancementsinmedicineandtechnology,andshiftingofpersonalviews.Deviantbehaviorsthatarenowacceptableinclude: Havingtattoos Beingasingleparent Havingavegandiet Undergoingplasticsurgery Samesexmarriages Marijuanaconsumption Womenwhoworkoutsideofthehome Additionally,therearebehaviorsandactionsthatwereonceconsideredacceptablethatarenowconsideredasdeviant,suchas: Slavery Smokinginpublicplaces Spankingachild Sexism LessonSummaryDeviantbehavior,alsoknownasdeviantaction,areactsthatviolatesocialnormsorexpectations.Socialnormsareunwrittenrulesthatinfluencebehaviorandareestablishedasacceptableorunacceptablebysocietyorculture.Whatisconsideredadeviantbehaviorcanchangebasedonaperson'sculture.Behaviorsthatareconsideredacceptableinoneculture,maynotbeacceptableinanother.Forexample,intheUnitedStates,itisacceptabletogiveathumbsup;however,givingthethumbsupinRussiaisoffensive.Thereareformallawsandrules,andinformalsocialnormsineachsocietythataimtoprohibitpeoplefromcommittingdeviantacts.Eachsocietydetermineswhichbehaviorsareconsidereddeviantandwhichbehaviorsarenormal.Examplesofdeviantbehaviorinsocietymayincludedrugaddiction,underagedrinking,andsexexploitation.Therearetwotypesofdeviantbehavior,whicharecategorizedbasedontherulesthatthebehaviorviolates.Formaldeviantbehaviorreferstoactionsorbehaviorsthatviolateestablishedlaws.Examplesofformaldeviantbehaviorincludebreakingintoaneighbor'shouse,stealingcandyfromalocalstore,domesticabuse,andcommittingmurder.Informaldeviantbehaviorreferstoactionsorbehaviorsthatviolatesocialnorms.Examplesofinformaldeviantbehaviorincludewearingyourunderwearontheoutsideofyourclothing,belchingloudlyinpublic,talkingwithfoodinthemouth,andshowinguplatetoanappointment.Deviantbehaviorscanchangeovertime.Forexample,samesexmarriagesandbeingasingleparentusedtobeconsidereddeviantbehaviors,butarenowwidelyaccepted. TounlockthislessonyoumustbeaStudy.comMember. Createyouraccount FrequentlyAskedQuestions Whatisanexampleofdeviancebehavior? Deviantbehaviorcanbeinformalorformal.Anexampleofinformaldeviantbehaviorwouldbepickingyournoseinpublicorstandingtooclosetoanotherperson.Anexampleofformaldeviantbehaviorwouldbestealingacarorcommittingmurder. Whatisadeviantbehaviorinsociety? Adeviantbehaviorinsocietyisonethatgoesagainstsocialnormsorlawsestablishedbysociety.Examplesofdeviantbehaviorinsocietymayincludealcoholism,underagedrinking,eatingdisorders,andsexexploitation. Whatisthemeaningofdeviantbehavior? Themeaningofdeviantbehaviorisactionsorbehaviorsthatgoagainstsocialnormsorexpectations.Socialnormsareunwrittenrulesthatasocietyorculturedeemsasacceptable.Anybehaviorthatviolatessocialnormsorformallawsisconsidereddeviant. Registertoviewthislesson Areyouastudentorateacher? Iamastudent Iamateacher UnlockYourEducation Seeforyourselfwhy30millionpeopleuseStudy.com BecomeaStudy.commemberandstartlearningnow. BecomeaMember Alreadyamember?LogIn  Back Resourcescreatedbyteachersforteachers Over30,000videolessons &teachingresources‐all inoneplace. Videolessons Quizzes&Worksheets ClassroomIntegration LessonPlans IwoulddefinitelyrecommendStudy.comtomycolleagues.It’slikeateacherwavedamagicwandanddidtheworkforme.Ifeellikeit’salifeline. JenniferB. Teacher Tryitnow Back Createanaccount DeviantBehaviorOverview,Types&Examples|WhatisDevianceinSociety? Starttoday.Tryitnow AbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview 27chapters| 327lessons {{courseNav.course.topics.length}}chapters| {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}lessons |{{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcardset{{course.flashcardSetCoun>1?'s':''}} Ch1. IntroductiontoAbnormalPsychology:... Goto IntroductiontoAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch2. ResearchMethodsinAbnormal... Goto ResearchMethodsinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch3. ClinicalResearchofAbnormal... Goto ClinicalResearchofAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch4. TheBiologicalModelofAbnormality:... Goto TheBiologicalModelofAbnormality:HelpandReview Ch5. ThePsychodynamicModelofAbnormal... Goto ThePsychodynamicModelofAbnormalBehavior:HelpandReview Ch6. TheBehavioral/LearningModelof... Goto TheBehavioral/LearningModelofAbnormalBehavior:HelpandReview Ch7. TheCognitiveModelofAbnormal... Goto TheCognitiveModelofAbnormalBehavior:HelpandReview Ch8. Help&Reviewforthe... Goto Help&ReviewfortheHumanistic-ExistentialModelofAbnormalBehavior Ch9. TheSocioculturalModelofAbnormal... Goto TheSocioculturalModelofAbnormalBehavior:HelpandReview Ch10. TheDiathesis-StressModel:Helpand... Goto TheDiathesis-StressModel:HelpandReview Ch11. ClinicalAssessment:Helpand... Goto ClinicalAssessment:HelpandReview Ch12. IntroductiontoAnxietyDisorders:Help... Goto IntroductiontoAnxietyDisorders:HelpandReview Ch13. MoodDisordersofAbnormalPsychology:... Goto MoodDisordersofAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch14. StressDisorders:Helpand... Goto StressDisorders:HelpandReview Ch15. SomatoformDisordersinAbnormal... Goto SomatoformDisordersinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch16. DissociativeDisordersinPsychology:... Goto DissociativeDisordersinPsychology:HelpandReview Ch17. EatingDisordersinAbnormal... Goto EatingDisordersinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch18. SexualandGenderIdentityDisorders:... Goto SexualandGenderIdentityDisorders:HelpandReview Ch19. SubstanceUseDisorders:Helpand... Goto SubstanceUseDisorders:HelpandReview Ch20. PsychoticDisorders:Helpand... Goto PsychoticDisorders:HelpandReview Ch21. CognitiveDisordersinAbnormal... Goto CognitiveDisordersinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch22. Life-SpanDevelopmentDisorders:Help... Goto Life-SpanDevelopmentDisorders:HelpandReview Ch23. PersonalityDisordersinAbnormalPsychology:Help... IntrotoPersonality 4:16 ClinicalFeaturesofPersonalityDisorders:Identity&InterpersonalDifficulties 7:39 ClusterAPersonalityDisorders:Paranoid,SchizoidandSchizotypal 6:36 ClusterBPersonalityDisorders:ErraticTypes 8:49 ClusterCPersonalityDisorders:Avoidant,Dependent,Obsessive-Compulsive 7:01 ChallengesinDiagnosingPersonalityDisorders 5:56 DeviantActsinSociety:Examples&Concept 3:13 6:15 NextLesson HistrionicPersonalityDisorder:Symptoms,Treatment&CaseStudies NeuroticismandPersonality:Definition&Overview WhatIsAntisocialPersonalityDisorder?-Symptoms,Treatment&Causes WhatIsBorderlinePersonalityDisorder?-Symptoms,Treatment&Therapy Psychopathy:Symptoms,Definition&Treatment AntisocialBehavior:Causes&Symptoms 6:17 AngerProblems&Disorders:Symptoms&Treatment Borderlinevs.NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder 6:43 MalignantNarcissisticPersonalityDisorder:Definition&Traits 5:22 Goto PersonalityDisordersinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch24. FactitiousDisorders:Helpand... Goto FactitiousDisorders:HelpandReview Ch25. TreatmentinAbnormalPsychology:Help... Goto TreatmentinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch26. LegalandEthicalIssuesinAbnormal... Goto LegalandEthicalIssuesinAbnormalPsychology:HelpandReview Ch27. Cognitive,Social&Emotional... Goto Cognitive,Social&EmotionalDevelopment DeviantBehaviorOverview,Types&Examples|WhatisDevianceinSociety?RelatedStudyMaterials RecommendedLessonsandCoursesforYou RelatedLessons RelatedCourses RelatedLessons DevianceTheories&Types|WhatisDevianceinSociology? CrimeandDevianceintheU.S.CriminalJusticeSystem:PunishmentandDueProcess DevianceinSociology:Concept&Behavior|WhatIsDeviantBehavior? DeviantWorkplaceBehavior:NegativeEffectsonanOrganization Theory&Crime:Labeling&Social-ConflictTheories DeviantSubcultureExamples,Theory&Facts PrimaryDevianceOverview&Examples|WhatisPrimaryDeviance? FiveTechniquesofNeutralization|WhatisDenialofResponsibility? 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