How is Deviant Behavior Sometimes Considered Acceptable or Even Encouraged?

Introduction

Normally, in any social group, the members of the group are accepted because they contribute to the well-being of the group in one clearly defined way or another. The people in a particular group have a sense of identity, and in exchange, their behavior is homogenous to the health of the group. In other words, society encourages conformity to the norms, principles, and values because such an attitude helps or aids the group. Deviant behavior, on the other hand, is acting in an individualistic way; which can potentially harm the group. Compared to social conformity, deviance is anti-society. Deviant behavior includes crime, rejecting society's values (for example atheism in a religious society) and so on.

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When a deviant behavior is linked progress in society, then the society accepts it. For example, if an a society a scientist who keeps on making important discoveries, which helps the community grow and improve, then the scientist's deviant behaviors will be accepted. In essence, the scientist fits the "detached, inside and outside the group" description of a stranger (Simmel 33). People will say that the scientist is eccentric and in search of inspiration if he walks naked through town. A good example is Albert Einstein's moppy hair. Einstein's hair was certainly a mess; even his office was in shambles with papers everywhere. The society encouraged Einstein's non-conforming because he was a unique contributing member of the community. I suppose then it was fashionable to copy Einstein's hairstyle.

Society condones genius. The deviant behaviors of most of the members of the community who contribute to the scientific and socio-economic developments are encouraged because, who knows, maybe they make the geniuses see things from a different perspective. If a known person with a history of petty crime pulls the same move of walking naked through town, his behavior will be labeled "indecent and a poor example to the society." Whereas, a known scientist naked in the middle of the city is considered eccentric and seeking inspiration. Children might copy the scientist, and their parents will smile.

If a small group in society accepts and identifies with deviant behavior, then it will be encouraged within that group. A good example is racism in the twenty-first century. Most of the society considers being racist as deviant. However, there are small groups like the Ku Klux Klan which advocate for the supremacy of their race. The community of today is considered a more inclusive society to say a hundred years ago. A hundred years ago, in the United States, several racial discriminatory practices were acting as natural laws. For example, there were restaurants which did not serve people of color. In Economics and general business practice, most times management reserves the right of entry, but sociology has a different take on acceptance.

A hundred years ago, in 1918, a proprietor of a local club could write in clear letters at the entrance of his club "NO BLACKS ALLOWED!" The sign was respected because the norms at that time were racial. However, since the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and progressive calls, a lot has changed on that time (Burawoy 60). Whereas in 1918 a white man accepting a black man in an exclusively white golf club or so was considered deviant, the opposite is true for today. In the 1800s, the Klan was backed by most of the white community. Now their actions are treated with the same level of disgust like terrorists. Minorities and majority groups have contrasting opinions on what is considered deviant and at what time.

Conclusion

Hence, in conclusion, there are two types of deviant behaviors encouraged and accepted by society. The society promotes individual behavior which leads to progressive results. It depends on the person's position concerning contribution to society that makes the society to either accept or discourage a deviant behavior. Person A and B can do action X, deemed abnormal, but person B is encouraged while A is made a social pariah because B has in the past made unique scientific contributions while A has a criminal history. Deviant behavior has changed over time. For example, in 2018 the Ku Klux Klan 's efforts are considered deviant while in 1872 it was accepted in society; however, within the Klan racism is a symbol of identity hence encouraged and not deemed abnormal. Changing times, extremist groups and contribution to society define the boundaries of acceptance and encouragement of deviant behaviors.

Works Cited

Burawoy, Michael. "Public sociologies: Contradictions, dilemmas, and possibilities." Social Forces 82.4 (2004): 59-65

Simmel, Georg. "The stranger." The Sociology of Georg Simmel 402 (1950): 29-33