We all know who deviants are, or at least we think we know. And also we know, even in general terms, about deviant behavior.
Deviants are those individuals who refuselive by the rules that most of us adhere to. They are "bottom people" whose behavior does not fit into what most define as normal acceptable standards. Illustrative examples are alcoholism, crime, drug addiction as a form of deviant behavior, etc.
However, reality is not always what it seems, this is what sociology teaches. The concept of "deviant" does not lend itself to an exact definition.
Everyone knows that the human sociallife is governed by rules or norms. Our life would fall into chaos if we did not follow the rules that define certain behaviors as acceptable in certain contexts, and others as unacceptable. Organized traffic on the streets and roads would be impossible if the drivers did not comply with the rules. Perhaps some believe that on the roads there can not be a deviant, except perhaps a drunken or extremely careless driver. But if you really think so, then you are deeply mistaken. Deviant behavior is not uncommon here. Most drivers are not only deviants, but also are criminals. Because if you do not see a police car nearby, almost all of them regularly exceed the permissible speed.
As far as we are conformists, so are violatorsrules. We all also create our own rules. Drivers, of course, often violate the law on highways, but in reality, they create their informal rules as opposed to legal ones. If the upper limit of legal speed on the freeway is 70 miles per hour, most drivers still try not to exceed 80 miles or slightly more, while driving through the city, slow down.
Convention rules of acceptable and unacceptableroad traffic violations also vary. So, for the North Europeans, who drive their cars along the roads of the south of Italy, sometimes the hair on the head becomes on end, so there carelessly drivers treat any traffic rules. In Brazil traffic lights and other road signs are perceived rather not as a ban, but as a proposal. Motorcyclists in Rio de Janeiro are not stopping to go to the red light, if there is no oncoming car. If the main street crosses the secondary street, the driver who walks along the main street will never stop, let there be traffic signals. If someone leaves the secondary street, he has to beep or flashing headlights to warn other drivers.
When we begin to study deviant behavior,then you need to know what kind of rules people follow, and which ones are inclined to violate. No one violates all the rules, just like no one adheres to all the rules.
Even individuals who seem to break completely withnorms of a decent society, such as bank robbers, are likely to comply with the rules by which the gangs to which they belong are organized. Some groups with a very dubious reputation have a strict code of conduct, mandatory for their members; Those who violate this code are either punished or expelled.
Deviant behavior and its study is one of thecomplex areas of sociology. This science says that none of us can be considered normal, as we would like it to be. It also helps to understand that people whose behavior may seem incomprehensible or alienated, in fact act as completely rational beings.
Studying the theory of deviant behavior, we mustto draw their attention to public power, as well as the impact of class division of society on the rich and poor. When we consider deviations from social rules or norms or conformist behavior in accordance with them, we should always ask ourselves: "And whose are these rules?" And the answer is simple: "Public norms depend very much on division into classes and from attitudes toward authorities".