The beautiful thing about Sociology is that there is never one way to fully define a word or action. Different sociologists come up with their own theories and explanations for how our society functions. These theories are what help us to better understand our surroundings and aid us in making informed decisions instead of walking around like social zombies.

 

Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist who is said to be the father of sociology, defined deviance as the act of violoating the norms or expectations of a specific group or society.

 

He emphasized that deviance is a necessity in our society and that it carries out four major functions: (1) affirms cultural values and norms, (2) clarifies moral boundaries, (3) promotes social unity and (4) encourages social change.

(qouted from: http://edurkheim.tripod.com/id17.html)

 

Below is a video that delves deeper into what deviance is and the pros and cons of being deviant. Enjoy!