Verified Document

Social Norms And Deviance Essay

Deviance

In the field of sociology, deviance is defined as the lack of conformity to social norms, which vary from one culture to another. Given the variations in social norms from one culture to another, a deviance act can be committed in one society, but may be considered normal in another. Cultures and subcultures have different social norms even when these cultures exist within a single country. An example of an unfamiliar culture to me is the culture of Korowai tribe in Indonesian New Guinea. Some of the customs I consider deviant in this culture is the practice of cannibalism and consideration of outsiders as “ghost-demons.” Korowai people are among the last people on earth who eat their fellow tribesmen (Raffaele, 2006). Moreover, this people do not embrace foreigners and threaten to kill those who enter their territory since they view outsiders as “ghost-demons.”

Korowai people are likely to consider homosexuality and tattooing, which are practiced in my culture, as deviant. They believe in marriage and sexual relations between people of opposite sexes and consider homosexuality as a taboo. Moreover, to these people, tattooing is considered as an act that violates social norms and is unacceptable.

The media has played a significant role in my understanding and opinions regarding what is deviant or not deviant. Through the media, I have learned the social norms and cultural practices of different groups of people in the United States and across the globe. During this process, I have gained understanding of what is socially acceptable in different cultures. Apart from helping me understand social norms across different cultures, the media has shaped my views of what is deviant or not based on what it portrays. In most cases, the media portrays different stories and issues based on the society’s social norms or acceptable customs, which in turn shapes views on what is deviant or not.

Reference

Raffaele, P. (2006, September). Sleeping with Cannibals. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved May 16, 2018, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/sleeping-with-cannibals-128958913/

 

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Deviance and Social Control Deviance
Words: 1002 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Some examples of deviance that might be used to describe this type of challenge to the social order would be events like the Boston Tea Party, or the multitude of Vietnam War protests, one resulted in the development of the independence of the U.S. And the other ended compulsory military service in the U.S. (O'Neill, 1986, p. 350) Social control is defined as the ways in which our companions in

Moral Suppression, Social Norms, and the Human
Words: 880 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Moral Suppression, Social Norms, and the Human Mind: Psychoanalysis in "Wieland" by Charles Brockden Brown Eighteenth century American literature has yet to witness the science of psychoanalysis that Sigmund Freud had introduced in the 19th century. Psychoanalytic theory posits that people are influenced by unconscious forces, wherein an individual's innate desires and drives are contained within. Upon the conceptualization of psychoanalytic theory, literary works and analysis have portrayed characters and events

Deviance Historical Records Deviance Is the Violation
Words: 1411 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

DEVIANCE Historical Records Deviance is the violation of social norms. Norms are codes of ethics that act as guidance to people on how to live their lives. According to William Somner, there are three types of norms; Folkways are what a society considers being right with regard to culture and tradition. Issues like dressing, mannerisms are in this category. Different cultures and people have their own guidelines on dressing and etiquette. Violations

Deviance Among Canadian Youths Deviation Refers to
Words: 957 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Deviance Among Canadian Youths Deviation refers to the violation of the acceptable norms and values that have maintained within the cultural framework of a society. Norms are very important in every society since they allow the people of a given society to coexist with one another, and create the best environment for human living. The Canadian society like other societies is guided by certain norms and values, which are useful for

Social and Cultural Theory Study Guide
Words: 3203 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Social and Cultural Theory Study Guide Karl Marx Karl Marx was a prolific German social philosopher who is renowned for his exceptional theories related to modern socialism and communism. Marx strongly believed that the recent times have changed the value of man. According to Marx, people are no longer valued for who they are, but they are categorized assessing their importance and participation in the production of products/goods. In the present time,

Social Deviance Social Deviancy Can Be Understood
Words: 1997 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Social Deviance Social deviancy can be understood through biological and psychological factors. Discuss drawing on sociological approaches to deviancy Social deviance is a phenomenon which comes under the domain of sociology. It refers to those acts, thoughts or beliefs which are against the social norms of any particular culture or value system. This phenomenon was not so much popular till twentieth century however it has gain a lot of importance in twenty-first

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now