How is Deviance Functional for Society?

      A deviant act is something that is violating the social norms, or something that is against what is seen as a normal behavior.  For example, deviance could be something as extreme as murder, or it could be something as simple as speeding, or as the picture above shows, giving a peace sign while having your mug shot taken.  A deviant act is just something that our society doesn't portray as a normal behavior.

      First, I think that deviance is necessary for our society because it creates a lot of jobs that wouldn't be needed if there was no deviance.  For example, every thing that is against the law in considered to be a deviant act. So using the example I said earlier, speeding is considered deviance, which we have police officers to patrol.  Police officers, jail guards, detectives, court systems, would all be out of work without deviance.

      Next, deviance is needed for us to decide what social norms are.  For example, having an abortion could be considered to be a deviant act, but how would we know that if no one had ever gotten an abortion?  How would we decide what was wrong and what was right if the only thing people ever did was the right thing?  I think having deviance plays a big part in establishing our societies norms for us.

      Third, I think that deviance is a way that social change can occur. "If a deviant act becomes more accepted it soon may be considered legitimate." (FBI Deviance and Social Control 2012).  For example, the recent fad known as being "hipster".  A few years ago people who wore beanies and high waisted pants, smoked cigarettes and listened to reggae music were considered to be committing an act of deviance.  Now, people who participate in a fad, or people who are considered to be "in style."  A deviant act that attracts a lot of people to participate in it can easily result in social change.

      Overall, deviance is necessary in our society to create jobs, help us define what our social norm is, and help create social change.  Deviance does not always have to be something that is bad, just something that is out of the ordinary, or against what most people would view as "normal".

FBI "Deviance and Social Control." 2012 http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jmahoney/deviance.htm