personal deviance essay

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7.2 Explaining Deviance

Learning objective.

• State the major arguments and assumptions of the various sociological explanations of deviance.

If we want to reduce violent crime and other serious deviance, we must first understand why it occurs. Many sociological theories of deviance exist, and together they offer a more complete understanding of deviance than any one theory offers by itself. Together they help answer the questions posed earlier: why rates of deviance differ within social categories and across locations, why some behaviors are more likely than others to be considered deviant, and why some kinds of people are more likely than others to be considered deviant and to be punished for deviant behavior. As a whole, sociological explanations highlight the importance of the social environment and of social interaction for deviance and the commision of crime. As such, they have important implications for how to reduce these behaviors. Consistent with this book’s public sociology theme, a discussion of several such crime-reduction strategies concludes this chapter.

We now turn to the major sociological explanations of crime and deviance. A summary of these explanations appears in Table 7.1 “Theory Snapshot: Summary of Sociological Explanations of Deviance and Crime” .

Table 7.1 Theory Snapshot: Summary of Sociological Explanations of Deviance and Crime

Functionalist Explanations

Several explanations may be grouped under the functionalist perspective in sociology, as they all share this perspective’s central view on the importance of various aspects of society for social stability and other social needs.

Émile Durkheim: The Functions of Deviance

As noted earlier, Émile Durkheim said deviance is normal, but he did not stop there. In a surprising and still controversial twist, he also argued that deviance serves several important functions for society.

First, Durkheim said, deviance clarifies social norms and increases conformity. This happens because the discovery and punishment of deviance reminds people of the norms and reinforces the consequences of violating them. If your class were taking an exam and a student was caught cheating, the rest of the class would be instantly reminded of the rules about cheating and the punishment for it, and as a result they would be less likely to cheat.

A second function of deviance is that it strengthens social bonds among the people reacting to the deviant. An example comes from the classic story The Ox-Bow Incident (Clark, 1940), in which three innocent men are accused of cattle rustling and are eventually lynched. The mob that does the lynching is very united in its frenzy against the men, and, at least at that moment, the bonds among the individuals in the mob are extremely strong.

A final function of deviance, said Durkheim, is that it can help lead to positive social change. Although some of the greatest figures in history—Socrates, Jesus, Joan of Arc, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. to name just a few—were considered the worst kind of deviants in their time, we now honor them for their commitment and sacrifice.

Émile Durkheim wrote that deviance can lead to positive social change. Many Southerners had strong negative feelings about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, but history now honors him for his commitment and sacrifice.

U.S. Library of Congress – public domain.

Sociologist Herbert Gans (1996) pointed to an additional function of deviance: deviance creates jobs for the segments of society—police, prison guards, criminology professors, and so forth—whose main focus is to deal with deviants in some manner. If deviance and crime did not exist, hundreds of thousands of law-abiding people in the United States would be out of work!

Although deviance can have all of these functions, many forms of it can certainly be quite harmful, as the story of the mugged voter that began this chapter reminds us. Violent crime and property crime in the United States victimize millions of people and households each year, while crime by corporations has effects that are even more harmful, as we discuss later. Drug use, prostitution, and other “victimless” crimes may involve willing participants, but these participants often cause themselves and others much harm. Although deviance according to Durkheim is inevitable and normal and serves important functions, that certainly does not mean the United States and other nations should be happy to have high rates of serious deviance. The sociological theories we discuss point to certain aspects of the social environment, broadly defined, that contribute to deviance and crime and that should be the focus of efforts to reduce these behaviors.

Social Ecology: Neighborhood and Community Characteristics

An important sociological approach, begun in the late 1800s and early 1900s by sociologists at the University of Chicago, stresses that certain social and physical characteristics of urban neighborhoods raise the odds that people growing up and living in these neighborhoods will commit deviance and crime. This line of thought is now called the social ecology approach (Mears, Wang, Hay, & Bales, 2008). Many criminogenic (crime-causing) neighborhood characteristics have been identified, including high rates of poverty, population density, dilapidated housing, residential mobility, and single-parent households. All of these problems are thought to contribute to social disorganization , or weakened social bonds and social institutions, that make it difficult to socialize children properly and to monitor suspicious behavior (Mears, Wang, Hay, & Bales, 2008; Sampson, 2006).

Sociology Making a Difference

Improving Neighborhood Conditions Helps Reduce Crime Rates

One of the sociological theories of crime discussed in the text is the social ecology approach. To review, this approach attributes high rates of deviance and crime to the neighborhood’s social and physical characteristics, including poverty, high population density, dilapidated housing, and high population turnover. These problems create social disorganization that weakens the neighborhood’s social institutions and impairs effective child socialization.

Much empirical evidence supports social ecology’s view about negative neighborhood conditions and crime rates and suggests that efforts to improve these conditions will lower crime rates. Some of the most persuasive evidence comes from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (directed by sociologist Robert J. Sampson), in which more than 6,000 children, ranging in age from birth to 18, and their parents and other caretakers were studied over a 7-year period. The social and physical characteristics of the dozens of neighborhoods in which the subjects lived were measured to permit assessment of these characteristics’ effects on the probability of delinquency. A number of studies using data from this project confirm the general assumptions of the social ecology approach. In particular, delinquency is higher in neighborhoods with lower levels of “collective efficacy,” that is, in neighborhoods with lower levels of community supervision of adolescent behavior.

The many studies from the Chicago project and data in several other cities show that neighborhood conditions greatly affect the extent of delinquency in urban neighborhoods. This body of research in turn suggests that strategies and programs that improve the social and physical conditions of urban neighborhoods may well help decrease the high rates of crime and delinquency that are so often found there. (Bellair & McNulty, 2009; Sampson, 2006)

Strain Theory

Failure to achieve the American dream lies at the heart of Robert Merton’s (1938) famous strain theory (also called anomie theory). Recall from Chapter 1 “Sociology and the Sociological Perspective” that Durkheim attributed high rates of suicide to anomie, or normlessness, that occurs in times when social norms are unclear or weak. Adapting this concept, Merton wanted to explain why poor people have higher deviance rates than the nonpoor. He reasoned that the United States values economic success above all else and also has norms that specify the approved means, working, for achieving economic success. Because the poor often cannot achieve the American dream of success through the conventional means of working, they experience a gap between the goal of economic success and the means of working. This gap, which Merton likened to Durkheim’s anomie because of the resulting lack of clarity over norms, leads to strain or frustration. To reduce their frustration, some poor people resort to several adaptations, including deviance, depending on whether they accept or reject the goal of economic success and the means of working. Table 7.2 “Merton’s Anomie Theory” presents the logical adaptations of the poor to the strain they experience. Let’s review these briefly.

Table 7.2 Merton’s Anomie Theory

Despite their strain, most poor people continue to accept the goal of economic success and continue to believe they should work to make money. In other words, they continue to be good, law-abiding citizens. They conform to society’s norms and values, and, not surprisingly, Merton calls their adaptation conformity .

Faced with strain, some poor people continue to value economic success but come up with new means of achieving it. They rob people or banks, commit fraud, or use other illegal means of acquiring money or property. Merton calls this adaptation innovation .

Other poor people continue to work at a job without much hope of greatly improving their lot in life. They go to work day after day as a habit. Merton calls this third adaptation ritualism . This adaptation does not involve deviant behavior but is a logical response to the strain poor people experience.

One of Robert Merton’s adaptations in his strain theory is retreatism, in which poor people abandon society’s goal of economic success and reject its means of employment to reach this goal. Many of today’s homeless people might be considered retreatists under Merton’s typology.

Franco Folini – Homeless woman with dogs – CC BY-SA 2.0.

In Merton’s fourth adaptation, retreatism , some poor people withdraw from society by becoming hobos or vagrants or by becoming addicted to alcohol, heroin, or other drugs. Their response to the strain they feel is to reject both the goal of economic success and the means of working.

Merton’s fifth and final adaptation is rebellion . Here poor people not only reject the goal of success and the means of working but work actively to bring about a new society with a new value system. These people are the radicals and revolutionaries of their time. Because Merton developed his strain theory in the aftermath of the Great Depression, in which the labor and socialist movements had been quite active, it is not surprising that he thought of rebellion as a logical adaptation of the poor to their lack of economic success.

Although Merton’s theory has been popular over the years, it has some limitations. Perhaps most important, it overlooks deviance such as fraud by the middle and upper classes and also fails to explain murder, rape, and other crimes that usually are not done for economic reasons. It also does not explain why some poor people choose one adaptation over another.

Merton’s strain theory stimulated other explanations of deviance that built on his concept of strain. Differential opportunity theory , developed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (1960), tried to explain why the poor choose one or the other of Merton’s adaptations. Whereas Merton stressed that the poor have differential access to legitimate means (working), Cloward and Ohlin stressed that they have differential access to illegitimate means . For example, some live in neighborhoods where organized crime is dominant and will get involved in such crime; others live in neighborhoods rampant with drug use and will start using drugs themselves.

In a more recent formulation, two sociologists, Steven F. Messner and Richard Rosenfeld (2007), expanded Merton’s view by arguing that in the United States crime arises from several of our most important values, including an overemphasis on economic success, individualism, and competition. These values produce crime by making many Americans, rich or poor, feel they never have enough money and by prompting them to help themselves even at other people’s expense. Crime in the United States, then, arises ironically from the country’s most basic values.

In yet another extension of Merton’s theory, Robert Agnew (2007) reasoned that adolescents experience various kinds of strain in addition to the economic type addressed by Merton. A romantic relationship may end, a family member may die, or students may be taunted or bullied at school. Repeated strain-inducing incidents such as these produce anger, frustration, and other negative emotions, and these emotions in turn prompt delinquency and drug use.

Deviant Subcultures

Some sociologists stress that poverty and other community conditions give rise to certain subcultures through which adolescents acquire values that promote deviant behavior. One of the first to make this point was Albert K. Cohen (1955), whose status frustration theory says that lower-class boys do poorly in school because schools emphasize middle-class values. School failure reduces their status and self-esteem, which the boys try to counter by joining juvenile gangs. In these groups, a different value system prevails, and boys can regain status and self-esteem by engaging in delinquency. Cohen had nothing to say about girls, as he assumed they cared little about how well they did in school, placing more importance on marriage and family instead, and hence would remain nondelinquent even if they did not do well. Scholars later criticized his disregard for girls and assumptions about them.

Another sociologist, Walter Miller (1958), said poor boys become delinquent because they live amid a lower-class subculture that includes several focal concerns , or values, that help lead to delinquency. These focal concerns include a taste for trouble, toughness, cleverness, and excitement. If boys grow up in a subculture with these values, they are more likely to break the law. Their deviance is a result of their socialization. Critics said Miller exaggerated the differences between the value systems in poor inner-city neighborhoods and wealthier, middle-class communities (Akers & Sellers, 2008).

A very popular subcultural explanation is the so-called subculture of violence thesis, first advanced by Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti (1967). In some inner-city areas, they said, a subculture of violence promotes a violent response to insults and other problems, which people in middle-class areas would probably ignore. The subculture of violence, they continued, arises partly from the need of lower-class males to “prove” their masculinity in view of their economic failure. Quantitative research to test their theory has failed to show that the urban poor are more likely than other groups to approve of violence (Cao, Adams, & Jensen, 1997). On the other hand, recent ethnographic (qualitative) research suggests that large segments of the urban poor do adopt a “code” of toughness and violence to promote respect (Anderson, 1999). As this conflicting evidence illustrates, the subculture of violence view remains controversial and merits further scrutiny.

Social Control Theory

Travis Hirschi (1969) argued that human nature is basically selfish and thus wondered why people do not commit deviance. His answer, which is now called social control theory (also known as social bonding theory ), was that their bonds to conventional social institutions such as the family and the school keep them from violating social norms. Hirschi’s basic perspective reflects Durkheim’s view that strong social norms reduce deviance such as suicide.

Hirschi outlined four types of bonds to conventional social institutions: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.

• Attachment refers to how much we feel loyal to these institutions and care about the opinions of people in them, such as our parents and teachers. The more attached we are to our families and schools, the less likely we are to be deviant.
• Commitment refers to how much we value our participation in conventional activities such as getting a good education. The more committed we are to these activities and the more time and energy we have invested in them, the less deviant we will be.
• Involvement refers to the amount of time we spend in conventional activities. The more time we spend, the less opportunity we have to be deviant.
• Belief refers to our acceptance of society’s norms. The more we believe in these norms, the less we deviate.

Travis Hirschi’s social control theory stresses the importance of bonds to social institutions for preventing deviance. His theory emphasized the importance of attachment to one’s family in this regard.

More Good Foundation – Mormon Family Dinner – CC BY-NC 2.0.

Hirschi’s theory has been very popular. Many studies find that youths with weaker bonds to their parents and schools are more likely to be deviant. But the theory has its critics (Akers & Sellers, 2008). One problem centers on the chicken-and-egg question of causal order. For example, many studies support social control theory by finding that delinquent youths often have worse relationships with their parents than do nondelinquent youths. Is that because the bad relationships prompt the youths to be delinquent, as Hirschi thought? Or is it because the youths’ delinquency worsens their relationship with their parents? Despite these questions, Hirschi’s social control theory continues to influence our understanding of deviance. To the extent it is correct, it suggests several strategies for preventing crime, including programs designed to improve parenting and relations between parents and children (Welsh & Farrington, 2007).

Conflict and Feminist Explanations

Explanations of crime rooted in the conflict perspective reflect its general view that society is a struggle between the “haves” at the top of society with social, economic, and political power and the “have-nots” at the bottom. Accordingly, they assume that those with power pass laws and otherwise use the legal system to secure their position at the top of society and to keep the powerless on the bottom (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). The poor and minorities are more likely because of their poverty and race to be arrested, convicted, and imprisoned. These explanations also blame street crime by the poor on the economic deprivation and inequality in which they live rather than on any moral failings of the poor.

Some conflict explanations also say that capitalism helps create street crime by the poor. An early proponent of this view was Dutch criminologist Willem Bonger (1916), who said that capitalism as an economic system involves competition for profit. This competition leads to an emphasis in a capitalist society’s culture on egoism , or self-seeking behavior, and greed . Because profit becomes so important, people in a capitalist society are more likely than those in noncapitalist ones to break the law for profit and other gains, even if their behavior hurts others.

Not surprisingly, conflict explanations have sparked much controversy (Akers & Sellers, 2008). Many scholars dismiss them for painting an overly critical picture of the United States and ignoring the excesses of noncapitalistic nations, while others say the theories overstate the degree of inequality in the legal system. In assessing the debate over conflict explanations, a fair conclusion is that their view on discrimination by the legal system applies more to victimless crime (discussed in a later section) than to conventional crime, where it is difficult to argue that laws against such things as murder and robbery reflect the needs of the powerful. However, much evidence supports the conflict assertion that the poor and minorities face disadvantages in the legal system (Reiman & Leighton, 2010). Simply put, the poor cannot afford good attorneys, private investigators, and the other advantages that money brings in court. As just one example, if someone much poorer than O. J. Simpson, the former football player and media celebrity, had been arrested, as he was in 1994, for viciously murdering two people, the defendant would almost certainly have been found guilty. Simpson was able to afford a defense costing hundreds of thousands of dollars and won a jury acquittal in his criminal trial (Barkan, 1996). Also in accordance with conflict theory’s views, corporate executives, among the most powerful members of society, often break the law without fear of imprisonment, as we shall see in our discussion of white-collar crime later in this chapter. Finally, many studies support conflict theory’s view that the roots of crimes by poor people lie in social inequality and economic deprivation (Barkan, 2009).

Feminist Perspectives

Feminist perspectives on crime and criminal justice also fall into the broad rubric of conflict explanations and have burgeoned in the last two decades. Much of this work concerns rape and sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and other crimes against women that were largely neglected until feminists began writing about them in the 1970s (Griffin, 1971). Their views have since influenced public and official attitudes about rape and domestic violence, which used to be thought as something that girls and women brought on themselves. The feminist approach instead places the blame for these crimes squarely on society’s inequality against women and antiquated views about relations between the sexes (Renzetti, 2011).

Another focus of feminist work is gender and legal processing. Are women better or worse off than men when it comes to the chances of being arrested and punished? After many studies in the last two decades, the best answer is that we are not sure (Belknap, 2007). Women are treated a little more harshly than men for minor crimes and a little less harshly for serious crimes, but the gender effect in general is weak.

A third focus concerns the gender difference in serious crime, as women and girls are much less likely than men and boys to engage in violence and to commit serious property crimes such as burglary and motor vehicle theft. Most sociologists attribute this difference to gender socialization. Simply put, socialization into the male gender role, or masculinity, leads to values such as competitiveness and behavioral patterns such as spending more time away from home that all promote deviance. Conversely, despite whatever disadvantages it may have, socialization into the female gender role, or femininity, promotes values such as gentleness and behavior patterns such as spending more time at home that help limit deviance (Chesney-Lind & Pasko, 2004). Noting that males commit so much crime, Kathleen Daly and Meda Chesney-Lind (1988, p. 527) wrote,

A large price is paid for structures of male domination and for the very qualities that drive men to be successful, to control others, and to wield uncompromising power.…Gender differences in crime suggest that crime may not be so normal after all. Such differences challenge us to see that in the lives of women, men have a great deal more to learn.

Gender socialization helps explain why females commit less serious crime than males. Boys are raised to be competitive and aggressive, while girls are raised to be more gentle and nurturing.

Philippe Put – Fight – CC BY 2.0.

Two decades later, that challenge still remains.

Symbolic Interactionist Explanations

Because symbolic interactionism focuses on the means people gain from their social interaction, symbolic interactionist explanations attribute deviance to various aspects of the social interaction and social processes that normal individuals experience. These explanations help us understand why some people are more likely than others living in the same kinds of social environments. Several such explanations exist.

Differential Association Theory

One popular set of explanations, often called learning theories , emphasizes that deviance is learned from interacting with other people who believe it is OK to commit deviance and who often commit deviance themselves. Deviance, then, arises from normal socialization processes. The most influential such explanation is Edwin H. Sutherland’s (1947) differential association theory , which says that criminal behavior is learned by interacting with close friends and family members. These individuals teach us not only how to commit various crimes but also the values, motives, and rationalizations that we need to adopt in order to justify breaking the law. The earlier in our life that we associate with deviant individuals and the more often we do so, the more likely we become deviant ourselves. In this way, a normal social process, socialization, can lead normal people to commit deviance.

Sutherland’s theory of differential association was one of the most influential sociological theories ever. Over the years much research has documented the importance of adolescents’ peer relationships for their entrance into the world of drugs and delinquency (Akers & Sellers, 2008). However, some critics say that not all deviance results from the influences of deviant peers. Still, differential association theory and the larger category of learning theories it represents remain a valuable approach to understanding deviance and crime.

Labeling Theory

If we arrest and imprison someone, we hope they will be “scared straight,” or deterred from committing a crime again. Labeling theory assumes precisely the opposite: it says that labeling someone deviant increases the chances that the labeled person will continue to commit deviance. According to labeling theory, this happens because the labeled person ends up with a deviant self-image that leads to even more deviance. Deviance is the result of being labeled (Bohm & Vogel, 2011).

This effect is reinforced by how society treats someone who has been labeled. Research shows that job applicants with a criminal record are much less likely than those without a record to be hired (Pager, 2009). Suppose you had a criminal record and had seen the error of your ways but were rejected by several potential employers. Do you think you might be just a little frustrated? If your unemployment continues, might you think about committing a crime again? Meanwhile, you want to meet some law-abiding friends, so you go to a singles bar. You start talking with someone who interests you, and in response to this person’s question, you say you are between jobs. When your companion asks about your last job, you reply that you were in prison for armed robbery. How do you think your companion will react after hearing this? As this scenario suggests, being labeled deviant can make it difficult to avoid a continued life of deviance.

Labeling theory also asks whether some people and behaviors are indeed more likely than others to acquire a deviant label. In particular, it asserts that nonlegal factors such as appearance, race, and social class affect how often official labeling occurs.

Labeling theory assumes that someone who is labeled deviant will be more likely to commit deviance as a result. One problem that ex-prisoners face after being released back into society is that potential employers do not want to hire them. This fact makes it more likely that they will commit new offenses.

Victor – Handcuffs – CC BY 2.0.

William Chambliss’s (1973) classic analysis of the “Saints” and the “Roughnecks” is an excellent example of this argument. The Saints were eight male high-school students from middle-class backgrounds who were very delinquent, while the Roughnecks were six male students in the same high school who were also very delinquent but who came from poor, working-class families. Although the Saints’ behavior was arguably more harmful than the Roughnecks’, their actions were considered harmless pranks, and they were never arrested. After graduating from high school, they went on to college and graduate and professional school and ended up in respectable careers. In contrast, the Roughnecks were widely viewed as troublemakers and often got into trouble for their behavior. As adults they either ended up in low-paying jobs or went to prison.

Labeling theory’s views on the effects of being labeled and on the importance of nonlegal factors for official labeling remain controversial. Nonetheless, the theory has greatly influenced the study of deviance and crime in the last few decades and promises to do so for many years to come.

Key Takeaways

• Both biological and psychological explanations assume that deviance stems from problems arising inside the individual.
• Sociological explanations attribute deviance to various aspects of the social environment.
• Several functionalist explanations exist. Durkheim highlighted the functions that deviance serves for society. Merton’s strain theory assumed that deviance among the poor results from their inability to achieve the economic success so valued in American society. Other explanations highlight the role played by the social and physical characteristics of urban neighborhoods, of deviant subcultures, and of weak bonds to social institutions.
• Conflict explanations assume that the wealthy and powerful use the legal system to protect their own interests and to keep the poor and racial minorities subservient. Feminist perspectives highlight the importance of gender inequality for crimes against women and of male socialization for the gender difference in criminality.
• Interactionist explanations highlight the importance of social interaction in the commitment of deviance and in reactions to deviance. Labeling theory assumes that the labeling process helps ensure that someone will continue to commit deviance, and it also assumes that some people are more likely than others to be labeled deviant because of their appearance, race, social class, and other characteristics.

For Your Review

• In what important way do biological and psychological explanations differ from sociological explanations?
• What are any two functions of deviance according to Durkheim?
• What are any two criminogenic social or physical characteristics of urban neighborhoods?
• What are any two assumptions of feminist perspectives on deviance and crime?
• According to labeling theory, what happens when someone is labeled as a deviant?

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The Social Deviance: Types and Forms Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Deviance can be described as any form of behavior that goes against the cultural values, norms beliefs or practices. Social deviance can thus be defined as the violation of a society’s norms

Deviance is clearly evident in various settings within a society and can be divided into two with the first type being formal deviance that refers to the abuse of a society’s laws that have been enacted formally for example child sexual abuse, murder, robbery, incest, drug and substance and assault. (Erdwin H. Jr. p 54).

The second type of deviance is known as informal deviance which refers to the violation or abuse of social norms, beliefs or practices that have not been formally enacted as laws. These vary from culture to culture and may include simple habits like that of picking the nose and loud belching to serious behaviors that include tattooing, polygamy and homosexuality. (Erdwin H. Jr. p 54).

Erich Goode defines extreme deviance as the serious behavior, physical characteristics or beliefs that casts people outside a given society through stigmatization, discrimination or even exclusion from a particular society. An action or trait is regarded as deviant when it becomes unacceptable or unpleasant to many people. According to Erich, those involved in extreme deviance always want to associate with others with similar behavior hence creating a subculture that further highlights or strengthen their identity. Examples of such cultures of deviance include belief in white supremacy, involvement in the Earth First movement and alien abduction. These present ideologies are deemed by the society as abnormal. (Erich Goode, p 105).

Alien abduction involves an individual’s claim of having had a distressing encounter or meeting with an alien. The alien is described as a short grey-whitish skinned cat looking creature that has thin hands, this serves as a stereotype for a white man describing a black or even a Hispanic criminal, a concept that describes America where crime is defined by race. The individual mainly referred to as an alien abductee withdraws from the public and instead gets affiliated with groups that hold similar beliefs. Alien abductees alienate themselves from the society to form their own different society and culture.

White supremacy is believing that the white race is superior to every other races. This term can sometimes be used to describe the political philosophy that explains the great dominance of the whites in political and social issues. White supremacism involves a group of people that have formed their own culture different from that of the American values, practices and morals. This group believes that violence is the only way to ensure ethnic purification or cleansing that clears out the rest of the races and lives a pure white race in the society.

White supremacists share different values from those of the society, they form a subculture that gives them a sense of identity and that supports their beliefs hence reducing the rejection they receive from the ordinary Americans. According to some sociologists however, white supremacy includes megre beliefs that have been totally exaggerated by a large number of the white American majority. (Fredrickson George, p 163). The sociologists explain four white supremacy subcultures that include the Ku Klux Klan, the racist skinhead groups, the militant racists group and the neo Nazis. These four distinct groups have very distinctive beliefs in relation to race, religion, patriotism and the Jewish society. Though each subculture’s beliefs, recruitment procedures, commitment and political affiliations are different from other subcultures, they all believe that the human race is genetically as well as biologically different. White supremacy can be clearly identified as a major factor that results into racial discrimination and oppression whereby the non-whites are seen as outcasts. The creativity movement is an example of white supremacist. The movements define a person’s race in terms of religion and believe that a holy war based on race will at one time occur with an aim of eliminating all the Jews and other races from the world. (Fredrickson, George, p 162).

The Earth First movement is another extremely deviant group whose major influence was the anarchist political philosophy back in the early 1990’s. Earth first movement aims at protecting the earth by use of any possible means. The movement is not involved in any form of democracy and is instead involved in the damage and destruction of property of individuals involved in ‘the destruction of the earth’. These individuals include ranchers, loggers and farmers mainly those who practice genetically modified farming. The acts of destruction and damage are mainly through arson, sabotage and assault. The movement achieved its target of protecting mother earth through the destruction of other people’s property. It is only a small group of people with their own distinct ideologies and beliefs and whose acts are not only against the law but also cause harm to other members of the society.

Obesity is a condition whereby an individual’s weight is composed of more than 30% body fat. The condition that has turned out to be an epidemic in America is currently being viewed as a deviant behavior within various societies mainly due to the reaction it escalates from the society and also due to its various characteristics and traits that are similar to those of other socially deviant behaviors. One such trait is the fact that the condition is as a result of substance abuse that leads to severe effects just like alcohol or drug abuse or misuse. Children that are obese face a lot of stigmatization as well as victimization and as a result have a very low self esteem.

Also similar to other forms of deviant behaviors are the various factors that determine the obesity rate, these factors include age, sex and ethnicity of a child or individual. Parents and family are however regarded as those responsible for the weight and condition of a child as they play a huge role in determining a child’s diet, eating habits and lifestyle. (Tolle, Jr., Glen, p 4).

Obesity can be defined as a deviant behavior for various reasons. Apart from being unhealthy, obesity is extensively unacceptable in the United States. Obese people are seen as lazy, greedy and obscene and are highly discriminated against. For one to be termed as a deviant one has to have broken the cultural norms and beliefs hence is judged from his or her deeds. Norms are guidelines to societal behaviors. Obesity is a norm that is mainly based on traditional beliefs and manners that sometime depict an obese person as an outcast or abnormal. The attitudes, conditions and behaviors that label individuals as deviant all lead to obesity. Certain behaviors that result in obesity include inactiveness and excessive eating while on the other hand, a person’s or society’s attitude dictates ones perception on obesity. (Adler and Adler, p 50-51).

The sociological labeling theory of deviance can be used to define an obese person. Acquiring the obese status gives one the deviant status which can later be reversed and in turn bring back an individual within the accepted norm though this does not necessarily remove the deviant label. The society is harsher to individuals who acquire back their lost weight while they greatly cheer those who completely shed off any excess weight. It is very difficult for one who has regained lost weight to get rid of the deviant obese label. Those who completely shed off excess weight on the other hand are termed as positive deviants who the society looks at as role models.

Secondary and primary deviances have been described as steps in acquiring the deviant identity. Primary deviance involves the violation of the various norms that do not necessarily affect ones self esteem and role in the society. The person at this point does not show any obesity signs but is overeating hence feels the same as any other normal individual. Later, the person becomes visibly obese and is labeled by the society as obese. Secondary deviance is the stage where by an individual alienates himself from the society but later internalizes his or her identity and begins to freely interact with others with a condition similar to his. At this point, one has a very low self esteem.

Structuralism and interactionism theories can be used to explain the deviant obese behavior. Structuralism explains the positive role of deviance while interactionism explains the role of role models , peers and peer groups in influencing behavior whereby a person identifies him or herself with others in the society.

The American norm that defines beauty as thinness will continue to label obesity as deviance and the obese as deviant as long as it exists. Changing this norm is hence the only solution to building the self concept of the obese. (Adler and Adler, 245).

Engagement in premarital sex is an act that is greatly discouraged by parents hence regarded as a deviant behavior. Seventy seven percent of adults above the age of twenty one years view sex outside marriage as an abuse of the socially acceptable norms. Clinard’s definition of deviant behavior as the behavior that is viewed by a large number of people as wrong and intolerable can be used to support this. (Clinard, p 65).

Premarital sex can be termed as a deviant behavior similar to that of bhang smoking. Many parents and guardians view the behavior as one that is intolerable despite the fact that the behavior is normatively acceptable to the youths and is actively practiced. In this case parents and their children greatly differ in labeling premarital sex. Clinard’s definition depicts sex outside marriage as a deviant behavior from the adult’s view point. (Clinard, p 66).

Sexual child abuse is another extreme deviant behavior. In this form of child abuse a child is used to sexually an adult or an elder adolescent. Sexual abuse does not only involve physical sexual contact but also an adult’s indecent exposure of their sexual organs to the child, forcing the child to take part in sexual actions or behavior, displaying pornographic materials to a child or involving the child in pornographic activities. Incest is sexual abuse by a relative or member of the family.

Child sexual abuse as a deviant behavior has harmful effects on the victim. Such effects include trauma, stress and depression, physical harm especially to the genitalia, anxiety, possible low self esteem in adulthood and alienation whereby a child wants to stay alone. Incest is known to severely traumatize a child psychologically particularly if it is done by a parent. (Erdwin H. Jr. p 127).

Sexual abuse does not only violate the cultural norms but also the law meaning that any sex offenders are liable to be prosecuted in the court of law. This aspect further supports sexual abuse of children as extreme deviance.

From the discussion, it is evident that deviant behavior can only be termed as deviant by the audience members of the society or the victims but not those who are involved in the deviant acts. The subculture formed by the deviants can be seen as a justification for their actions.

Works Cited

Adler Patricia, Adler Peter. Constructions of Deviance Social Power, Context, and Interaction. 3rd ed. United States: Wadsworth, 2000.

Fredrickson, George (1981). White Supremacy . Oxford shire: Oxford University Press.

Clinard, Marshall (1961). Sociology of Deviant Behavior . New York: Rinehart Inc.

Erdwin H. Jr. (1980). Human Deviance, Social Problems, and Social Control . New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Erich Goode and D. Angus Vail (2008). Extreme Deviance . New York: Pine Forge Press.

Tolle, Jr., Glen. “The Emerging of Obese Children as Social Deviance” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia, 2007. Web.

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Essays on Deviance

Deviant Behavior

How it works

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Same Sex Marriage
• 4 Social impact
• 5 Personal Choice
• 6 Oppressed Minority
• 7 Create Money
• 8 Moral Issues
• 9 Conclusion

Introduction

Deviance can be any strange behavior that is not what society consider normal. Deviance can vary depending on how a person perceive it. Deviance can be positive or negative. An example would be getting a “speeding ticket” or getting an “award at school.” (Curra, 2017, p. 5) Deviance behavior is not the same in every culture or subculture. Public reactions to unconventional conduct can result in a stigma that labels such behavior as abnormal. Deviance manifests in two ways. The first is ascribed deviance, which refers to an individual possessing some sort of flaw that makes them appear unlike what is typically expected in public.

The second is achieved deviance, involving actions or characteristics that intentionally violate societal norms.

Same Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage became legal in another country for the first time in 2001. In 2004, one U.S. state followed by legalizing such unions. By 2014, this had expanded to 13 countries and 20 U.S. states. In 2015, all 50 U.S. states legalized same-sex marriage. I believe that these unions should be illegal as they infringe upon traditional and moral definitions of family.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, marriage is the state of being united in a legal relationship as husband and wife. Justice Clarence Thomas stated, “In our society, conjugality is not simply a governmental institution, it a religious institution too.” (Williams, 2015) He made this statement in ruling whether same sex marriages should be legalized. Therefore, I feel that making same sex marriages illegal will benefit the world by keeping values and norms as part of family life.

I think same sex marriage is wrong, my religious belief is that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The bible references many scriptures referring to the union of two people. The only thing sticks out to me is the part about Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. Same sex marriages are morally wrong. In roman 1:26, 27 states “men lust for men.” I think that the wedlock of two people of the same sex, set an bad example for kids. By accepting immoral behavior, it makes children perceive this form behavior as a normal relationship.

“Sexual script has been constructed to tell individuals the appropriate and inappropriate ways of acting, thinking, and feeling regarding things sexual. (Curra, 2017, p. 287) Two men or two women in a sexual relationship is not what God intend for this to be. When looking at human nature as God created, we don’t see animals of the same gender having sex with one another. So, what makes men and women so different because the same God created animal created them.

Social impact

Some social impacts of same sex marriages include prejudice and discrimination. “Behavior of this kind would weaken society of the importance entering marriage to have children.” (Dinno 2013, p. 2) Having judges to perform same marriages goes against their religious beliefs. By making same sex marriage illegal it will take the pressure off churches to accept this absurd behavior. This stress come from having an immoral act push on the one’s faith to keep his or her job by marring couples of the same sex. Same sex marriages have couple going to court to get benefits of their spouse when they die.

Children of same sex marriages will have to face jokes and other children teasing and taunting them about this union. I feel children will question their gender identity at an early stage in their life. Children will be forced to accept a union that they do not believe in. Same sex marriage is an example of what Curra called “sexual deviance going beyond the prevailing culture and the subculture scripts and inventing their own.” (Curra, 2017, p.287) Some feel that making same sex marriages legal is a human right.

Personal Choice

An individual can tie bonds with whomever he or she choose. They shouldn’t feel guilt for loving a person for whom they are. Same sex couples feel that laws for heterosexual couples should be treated the same for them too. The Gallup Poll, “10% of Americans feel that same sex marriages would be good for society.” (Kiefer, 2003) “Some People find it easier to justify actions they can get away with.” (Urbatsch, 2018, p.229) Therefore, society has started to accept behaviors that are out of the norm,

Oppressed Minority

Same sex couple felt that they were not able to love freely the person that they were in love with. Society shun them by putting labels and treating them like outsiders. “Societal prejudice and discrimination against same sex marriages resulted in the couples damage to the self.” (Crespi, 2015, p.228-232) By having a law to let them marry a person regardless of gender was victory for them. They felt morals and dignity brought back into their life. “Sexual Stigma is institutionalized through marriage inequality because laws denying access to marriage reflect structural stigma.” (Ogolsky, 2019, February)

Create Money

Prostitution is an action that some people do to provide for their families, try to get out of poverty, meet their everyday needs. Prostituting gives some women a source of income. Prostitutes will have control over the money they make without having to turn it over to a pimp. Also, by making prostitution legal it will give states revenue and the money prostitutes make can be taxed. Prostitution is a money-making business. Prostitution in some major cities bring in a huge amount of money. According to Pew research, “Atlanta illegal prostitution bring in an estimate of $290 million a year, Miami value at $205 million, and Denver value at $40 million a year.” (Washington Post, 2015) Taxes from the illegal professional could be used for funding other police needs and help keep prostitutes stay safe..

Moral Issues

People work in a lot of professions that are unsafe. They use their bodies in inappropriate ways to make money. Some examples are strippers, models, and porn stars. These professions have been partially accepted by society. So, why is “prostituting symbolizing all the imperfection that had been avoided by the Angel or Saintly Women,” seem as an immoral professional. (Curra, 2017, p. 298) Some argue it is immoral in the eyes of God. Legalizing prostitution go against morals and beliefs of society. Social reaction to this behavior has women fearing their partners will seek sex outside of home.

Some sexual identities can lead to social inequalities when it comes to being accepted by society. Homosexuals, prostitutes, Lesbians all hold a stigma when it comes to sexual identities or sexual actions that is not seen normal. Deviant behavior come from social reaction of society when something not in the norm. Marriage of same sex has been accepted in many countries. Social institutions have replaced the meaning of a time honored merger with travesty called same sex marriage. “Battle over morality and legality of same sex marriages will be a constant part of the marriage battle.” (Curra, 2017, p.310) Prostitution is still the forbidden job for women, even though it is a multi-million-dollar business that could help the economy and decrease crime that surround it.”

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Deviance and Social Control

A social norm is a consensus among people on what constitutes appropriate behavior. Cultural standards can exist in both unstructured and formalized forms. Concepts that describe individual interactions include a strong emphasis on the social normative effects, or social norms, as primary drivers of individual behavioral interventions. Norms are woven into the fabric of communities. In contrast to ideas, attitudes, and values, which might be partially owned and therefore do not automatically relate to conduct, standards are socially shared opinions concerning behavior. Culture, social class, and historical background all have a role in determining norms. As a result, the paper seeks to explore deviation and social control, explaining its concepts and how they relate to deviance and social control.

Deviant behavior is conduct that defies social standards and elicits unfavorable social responses. Various societies and countries formulate written laws prohibiting some actions because they are deemed detrimental. Crime is a sort of deviance that many Americans are concerned about in their localities. It violates the laws and regulations that the government uses to prevent deviant actions (McIntosh). As criminal activity and deviancy elicit negative social responses, individuals are reminded of the need to enforce social standards in their everyday interactions. General societal efforts toward preventing and punishing deviant conduct are known as social control. In the same way that a culture like the United States has traditional and nontraditional rules, it has traditional and nontraditional social control. As a general principle, informal social control is being used to regulate conduct incompatible with unwritten rules. In contrast, formal social control is used to manage behaviors inconsistent with established norms. In most cases, individuals are reluctant to defy unwritten rules since they are concerned about the responses of others who could be offended by our conduct (McIntosh). Therefore, informal social control, such as rage, social exclusion, and scorn, may be found in these responses when it comes to social control in various countries. As a result, judicial power is often involved, and the various regulatory authorities make up society’s regulatory structure.

Some individuals in society urge that deviance is common to individuals in society. They suggest that a community cannot coexists without cases of deviance, and it should be a normal aspect. Such societies cannot prevent individuals from violating the already existing social norms. Another aspect that seeks to define why deviance is common and ordinary in the community is because the society, deviation serves several vital purposes; nevertheless, every given civilization creates its definitions of deviance and those who perpetrate them (McIntosh). Even though this kind of deviation is common, some individuals are more predisposed to it than others. Furthermore, certain localities inside a particular culture have higher amounts of deviance than others; for instance, urban areas in the United States exhibit greater rates of violent crime when compared to the rural regions in the same country. It’s vital to remember that the above example illustrates an essential fact regarding the relevance of deviation: the conditions under which activity happens, not its nature, determine if it is regarded abnormal. While it’s possible that conversing with a monk might be frowned upon, it’s a given that it’s perfectly acceptable elsewhere. Assaulters who kill someone, such as a teenage boy, risk prison and perhaps death in several jurisdictions. However, the military is regarded as a hero if they kill another man in battle. Therefore, the circumstances and motivations for the killing decide if the perpetrator is punished or given an award, yet killing may happen in either case.

Symbolic interaction perspective

One of the most important theoretical frameworks in sociology is the symbolic interaction viewpoint or symbolic interactionism. Individuals’ symbolic meanings, which they construct via social contact, are central to such a view. Societal issues are examined through the lens of symbolic interaction theory, which focuses on the personal interpretations that individuals place on things, events, and actions. Even though it is considered that individuals’ actions are influenced by what they think instead of what is factually true, personal interpretations take precedence. As a result, society is seen as a product of human perception (McIntosh). The social tie is formed through individuals’ perceptions of one another’s actions. Therefore, the interpretation of the circumstance is a term used to describe various views of the current situation. As an elaboration of the theory, constructivism holds the truth of what individuals make it out to be through their mental constructions. They are indeed the social constructions possessing the meanings commonly accepted or largely acknowledged by most people in the community. These are the social constructs that will endure throughout existence. Therefore, it is a common method for determining what is considered inappropriate in society.

Functionalist perspective

Functionalism views a community as a system of interconnected pieces, all working together to provide social cohesion and stability. As a broad perspective, this one focuses on the entire and examines its structure and functioning, allowing for a more holistic view of society. Conventions, practices, rituals, and structures all have a role in society’s overall operation; this is the focus of functionalism. Deviance has two key functions for the structural-functionalist to establish social stability. First and foremost, mechanisms for identifying and penalizing deviations serve to establish standards and guidelines for individuals in the community, outlining what behaviors are acceptable and what are not (McIntosh). As a result, to prevent upsetting the social order, it is essential to be conscious of the acts that are considered abnormal. It is also important to note that such social factors establish barriers between communities and foster various groups’ “we against them” mindset. Most people unify behind universalism because of deviance; individuals labeled as deviant lose out. As a result, on the other hand, being labeled a “deviant” by some people in the society may also strengthen your community’s bonds as people claim control of the stigmatized identity or form their unique tight groups.

Conflict Perspective

Conflict theory holds that community is constituted by a battle for power between social categories vying for diminishing materials supplies. It is better described in the perspective of feminism as males striving to retain influence and power at the expense of females. There is a clear difference between males and females in this regard. Gender stereotypes might be suitable in explorer societies, but conflict theorists say that the dominant group automatically tries to protect its position and power. Conflict theory holds that oppressive or exploitative ruling groups are the root of all societal ills. Therefore, the perspective is optimal because it proposes adjustments in the power system, pushing for equal power distribution across genders. Concerning conflict perceptive, deviant conduct refers to activities that defy the rules of society (McIntosh). As a result, the person and the society come to a standstill when changing social standards. The middle class may overlook constitutional protections for the inferior, which may stand with the authorities rather than those who are less fortunate. Therefore, conflict theory is founded on the belief that current societal and economic dynamics have a major role in causing misbehavior.

Medicalization of Deviance

When formerly non – prescribed components of society are seen as medical conditions or sicknesses, they are referred to as medicalization. Some of life’s most frequent occurrences, such as birth and death, have been medicalized, bodily changes (such as the onset of old age or menopause), and mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety). As a result, the medicalization of deviant behavior refers to how non-normative or ethically criticized appearances, beliefs such as mental disease, racism, and actions are brought within medical decision-making. For millennia, people have identified the subcategories of deviance known as crazy, stupidity, craziness, mental disease, and psychiatric condition. Dementia, anxiety, unipolar depression, bipolar disease, paranoia, hysteria, and other particular designations have been used at different historical points, as have more current diagnoses such as obsessive-compulsive behavior, autism, and ADHD. A person with a serious mental illness is generally seen as a risk to himself and the rest of society (McIntosh). According to the theory, in response to mental health institutions, to a considerable part, is a social crisis. Many mentally ill patients are discharged from the facilities with little or no follow-up care, and many end up on the streets. Therefore the pharmaceuticalization of mental disease refers to the societal reaction to a mental condition.

In conclusion, every society has its collection of social norms that guide the community. Deviance and social control are essential elements in every society, even though individuals cannot refrain from breaking them. They seek to regulate or contain some form of conduct that individuals perceive to be harmful to the societal way of living. Therefore, every individual in society must embrace these aspects to eliminate crimes and avoid tough judicial punishments.

Works Cited

McIntosh, Mary, and Paul Rock, eds.  Deviance and social control . Vol. 18. Routledge, 2018.

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Essay On Deviance

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Women , Law , Sociology , Deviance , Nation , Conference , Countries , News

Published: 11/02/2022

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In sociology deviance is understood as person behavior or actions, which violate social norms. This includes violating formal norms of behavior (e.g., fraudulent economic activity, theft, murder) as well as informal social norms violation (rejecting traditions, folkways etc.) (Macionis 194). Norms are rules expected to be followed by all members of society. And deviance means inability of a particular person to follow these norms. It is important to state that common standard of normal behavior does not exist. Social norms can be distinct in different cultures, different regions of the world and even in different groups of people living in the same city. The act, which is considered to be deviant in one society, can be absolutely acceptable in another society. Any action or thought is not deviant itself: it becomes deviant only in relation to particular norms. The well-known example of lifestyle acceptable in one region and completely unacceptable in another is women’s rights in the countries of Western civilization and Islamic countries. Throughout the 20th century women gained a lot of rights in Western countries, including ability to freely express thoughts, equal opportunities in the labor market, right to take part in elections and many others. But the situation in the Islamic world is different. Due to the religious limitations, behavior of women is strictly controlled. In 2009 several women were accused in Sudan of “dressing improperly”. The punishment was imprisonment and, in some cases, 10 lashes. The crime was wearing trousers in public place (BBC). And the same approach is practiced in all Islamic countries. In Iran women who expose their hair or wear makeup in public can be whipped (Alinejad). In Saudi Arabia women don’t rave right to vote. And they also can’t legally drive motor vehicles (The Week). There was also a case in Nigeria, when a court convicted a divorced woman of bearing a child not in marriage and sentenced her to death by stoning (Dynes). Very different attitude to controversial social practices can exist even in different parts of one country. The most vivid example of such approach is the United States. Although prostitution is prohibited in almost all the states, nevertheless, the state law permits it in rural areas of Nevada. Casinos operation is legal in 17 states, while in others they are available only in certain areas. In 28 states casinos can be opened only within Indian reservations, and 14 other states have casinos only at horseracing tracks (American Gaming Association). It seems obvious that text-messaging while driving is dangerous to life and health. But only authorities of 26 states agree with this point of view. The other 6 states forbid this practice only for young drivers, and in other 18 states it is legal. Unisex marriages are legal in 37 states, but in others they are still forbidden (National Conference of State Legislatures).

Works Cited

Alinejad, Masih. “In Iran, Exposing Hair In Public Is A ‘Stealthy Freedom.’” Here & Now. [Online] Available November 17, 2015, at http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/11/17/my-stealthy-freedom. American Gaming Association. “2013 State of the States. The AGA Survey of Casino Entertainment.” 2014. [Online] Available at https://www.americangaming.org/sites/default/files/research_files/aga_sos2013_rev042014.pdf. BBC. “Sudan ‘Trousers Woman’ Released.” BBC Mobile News. [Online] Available September 8, 2009, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8244339.stm. Dynes, Michael. “Nigerian Woman Loses Appeal against Stoning Death.” News Africa. [Online] Available August 20, 2002, at http://www.independent.ie/world-news/africa/nigerian-mother-loses-appeal-against-stoning-death-26038329.html. Macionis, John J. Sociology, seventh Canadian edition [by] Macionis/Gerber. Toronto: Pearson, 2011. Print. National Conference of State Legislatures. “Same-Sex Marriage Laws.” National Conference of State Legislatures. [Online] Available June 26, 2015, at http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-laws.aspx. National Conference of State Legislatures. “State Traffic Safety Legislation Database.” National Conference of State Legislatures. [Online] Available September 2, 2015, at http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-traffic-safety-legislation-database.aspx. The Week. “Eleven things women in Saudi Arabia cannot do.” The Week. [Online] Available February 4, 2016, at http://www.theweek.co.uk/60339/eleven-things-women-in-saudi-arabia-cant-do.

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University of Notre Dame

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Tackling the Personal Essay: Tips from a Notre Dame Admissions Counselor

Published: August 30, 2024

Author: Zach Klonsinski

If you ask almost any admissions professional which part of reading applications is their favorite, it’s likely their answer will be a resounding, “The essays!” Essays are where we get to engage with students’ hopes, fears, dreams, life experiences (and more) in their authentic voice. We are humbled every year getting to “meet” all the incredible young people who are applying to Notre Dame through their essays!

Yet, writing an essay introducing yourself can be really hard. Maybe you’ve never done so before, or you haven’t for a really long time, and often it will seem really awkward. That’s OK!

It feels hard because it is–or at least it can be.

Don’t worry, though! I love sharing tips with applicants about the personal essay that will hopefully help you see it as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and then share that discernment with the colleges who will be fortunate enough to receive your application!

Getting started

The easiest way to get started is by simply brainstorming! I love using pen and paper (I’m anti-pencil, though I realize that may be a divisive opinion). The physical materials help me feel less constrained by technology, though you may find the technology comforting.

Use bulleted lists or short phrases to capture ideas, life experiences, values, and more. Every day, set aside five minutes to write about yourself or your college discernment process without stopping to think. Where does your mind lead you when you get out of your own way?

Ask your friends and family to help you identify values that are important to you or things that make you.. well… you! Often it’s easier to highlight and say nice things about someone else than it is ourselves, so lean on those who know you well!

Group these collective nuggets to see if any patterns or stories emerge. Do you see any prompts on your application that align with your brainstorming? The Common Application, for example, has seven to choose from, including a make your own prompt! Start writing on one that makes you pause, as that means you might have something to say! Don’t be afraid to go longer than your word count or to use an atypical form of writing.

While that specific level of chaos may not work for you, I always recommend staying away from sentences and avoiding constraining yourself while writing because…

Editing is more than spelling and grammar!

When we want to “edit” something, it can be tempting to start–and just as quickly end–with spell check. (Yes, your essay should have proper spelling and grammar, but please know we are not reading your essay with a red pen “grading” every single comma.)

What is far more important–though also far more intimidating–is your essay’s content.

What really improved my writing actually had nothing to do with me–rather, it was finding trusted editors to give me honest and constructive feedback. While it’s tempting to have your best friend or family member read your essay, I’ve found my best editors possess a strong rhetorical mind, ask thoughtful questions, and are not afraid to tell me when something isn’t working the way I think it is.

This may describe someone close to you, but maybe not. Maybe there’s a classmate or teacher who you have always admired, even if you don’t know them that well. Editing is an incredibly vulnerable process; don’t be afraid to lean into that vulnerability! I promise that a strong editor who works with your voice and style–rather than rewriting your essay how they would have–will help bring forth an authentic essay you didn’t even realize you could write!

Speaking of, authenticity will lead to your best essay

The best application essay is the one that helps us get to know you. Period. Full stop. Any topic can be a good topic, any topic can be a bad topic. At the end of the day, the topic you choose to write about is only a gateway to help us get to know you!

Let’s think of it another way. Say you printed out your essay at your school, without your name or other identifying information on it, and someone who knows you picked it up and read it. If they said, “I bet this is (your name)’s essay,” I can already tell you’re on the right track. There’s something truly you about it!

Where can I find more about writing application essays?

I’m so glad you asked! On our On-Demand Sessions webpage , you can find a number of helpful recorded sessions from our College Application Workshop series. One of them, co-presented by yours truly, is called “Crafting the Perfect College Essay”. My colleague Maria Finan and I present our own tips and tricks for about 20 minutes and then take questions from a virtual audience for the remainder of the 45 minute session. I invite you to check it out, as well as the other sessions we have recorded!

Ready to Write Your App Essays? Advice from an Admissions Counselor on the Notre Dame Supplement

Zach Klonsinski is a senior assistant director with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

He is the regional counselor for Minnesota, Missouri (Kansas City), Wisconsin, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, and China - Beijing

• Read Zach's profile.

Briefly describe a personal experience of deviance. If you are uncomfortable sha

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Briefly describe a personal experience of deviance. If you are uncomfortable sharing a personal experience, provide a link to a media representation (like a song, advertisement, or poem) and describe how it provides an example of deviance. Be sure to include the social context in which the deviance occurred. Then explain the behavior using one theory of deviance from our text. Be sure to let your reader know which theory you are using: Functional theories, including: Durkheim and functions of deviance Social disorganization theory (social ecology) Strain theory Deviant subculture/cultural deviance theory Conflict/Feminist theory Symbolic Interactionism, including Differential Association Theory Labeling Theory  My personal experience is being a psychiatric provider, and working in an outpatient facility where I am the first African American to be employed at the company. I am always undermined in discussions, respect and pay. I work full-time hours and my pay is never correct, it’s almost as if she’s stealing from me and whenever I say something about it I’m the mean angry aggressive black woman. I don’t like it. I don’t like not being paid what I should be paid. I can’t move ahead, and/or progress in my personal life. I don’t like to repeatedly change jobs but that has been my story for the longest. Repeatedly having to deal with various things on my peers nor myself don’t even understand. It has become overbearing and stressful.

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How to Write a Personal Narrative: A Step-by-Step Guide

“As I sat down to write this article, memories flooded back, each one a brushstroke in the painting of my past…”

That could be the beginning of your personal narrative. Writing it lets you turn your memories and experiences into stories that click with others. This type of writing goes beyond school assignments or essays for college applications; it’s a chance to get really good at sharing your life's events in ways that matter. 

In this article, we're going to explore what personal narratives are all about and guide you through a simple seven-step process to create your own. You’ll learn how to pull out moments that make your story stand out and how to tweak your writing until it’s just right. We’ve got practical examples for you to follow along, making sure you have everything you need to tell your story. 

What is a Personal Narrative?

A personal narrative is a way to tell your own story. It's a style of writing that puts your experiences front and center, inviting readers into your world. Teachers often assign personal narratives to encourage free, expressive writing. 

The personal narrative definition is wider than academic settings, though. . These narratives can also show potential employers who you are beyond your resume. At its core, writing a personal narrative is a form of storytelling, using a first-person perspective to bring real-life tales to life. Whether it's for a grade, a job, or just for fun, it's about getting your story out there.

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How to Write a Personal Narrative: Steps

In this section, we'll break down the process into manageable steps, starting with how to zero in on the right topic that speaks about who you are.

Step 1. Choosing a Personal Narrative Topic

The first step in crafting your personal narrative is picking the perfect topic. It should be something meaningful to you, something that has not just happened, but also shaped who you are or has a significant story behind it. Here’s how to frame your personal narrative ideas:

• Story Arc : Your narrative is like a mini-movie. Start with setting the scene, build up to the main event, and wrap up with a reflection. For example, if you’re writing about your first solo travel experience, begin with your initial feelings, describe the challenges you faced, and end with what you learned about yourself.
• Thematic Focus : Instead of moving through time, center your narrative around a central theme. Maybe it’s about resilience, and you could link different times you had to be resilient, ending with a major life challenge.
• A Day to Remember : Sometimes a single day can tell a lot about you. Pick a day that was particularly memorable and unpack it from start to finish. Maybe it was a seemingly ordinary day that brought unexpected lessons or joys.

Step 2. Working on Your Personal Narrative Outline

When putting together your personal narrative, starting with a solid outline can help keep your story on track. Here's how you can lay it all out:

• Introduction: Kick things off with a hook that grabs attention, like an intriguing question or a vivid snapshot of a key moment. Set the scene and introduce the main theme.
• Setting and Characters : Give a good sense of where your story is unfolding and who's involved. Paint a clear picture of the backdrop and the key people.
• Plot Development : Lay out the events in the order they happened, or group them around major themes. Build up to your main event, adding conflicts or challenges as you go.
• Climax : This is the high point of your story, where everything comes to a head. Make it a moment that has the most impact.
• Resolution : Wrap up the main storyline, showing how things settled down after the climax.
• Reflection : Spend some time reflecting on what happened. Share what you learned or how you changed because of the experience.

If you're looking for help crafting your personal narrative, consider checking out some legit essay writing services to get professional guidance.

Step 3. Writing the First Draft of Your Personal Narrative

Now let’s move on to the fun part! Don't worry about getting everything perfect right away — the first draft’s goal is to let your story flow naturally:

• Start with Your Hook: Revisit the introduction you outlined and flesh it out. Begin with the attention-grabbing sentence that will make readers want to continue.
• Let the Story Unfold: Follow your outline, but allow yourself some flexibility. As you write, new memories or details may come to mind. Embrace them! Think about what you saw, heard, and felt during these moments. Were you sitting in a sunlit room, listening to the hum of a busy street outside? Maybe you felt the chill of an autumn breeze? 
• Stay True to Your Voice: This is your story, so let your unique voice shine through. Whether you're humorous, reflective, or serious, maintain a consistent tone that feels authentically you. Keep the tone conversational and straightforward, as if you’re telling this story to a friend. 

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes.

Step 4. Revising Your Personal Narrative

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes:

• Tighten Up the Story : As you go through your draft, focus on making everything clear and to the point. If you’ve talked about how nervous you were before a big event more than once, try to combine those thoughts into one powerful sentence that really captures how you felt.
• Keep Your Tone Consistent : Make sure your voice stays the same throughout the story. If you start off with a casual, conversational tone, like saying, “I couldn’t shake the nerves before my big test,” stick with that style instead of suddenly becoming formal later on.
• Adjust the Pacing : Pay attention to how smoothly your story flows from one part to the next. When you’re describing a key moment, like meeting someone important or going through a major experience, give it the detail and time it deserves. Let those moments develop naturally without rushing.
• Enhance Your Descriptions : Make your imagery more vivid to help the reader visualize your story. For example, instead of just saying, “The room was noisy,” you could say, “The room buzzed with excited chatter.” These small tweaks can make your story feel more alive and engaging.

Step 5. Adding Personal Touches

As you polish your personal narrative, focus on making it uniquely yours. You can include personal reflections on your experiences. For example, if you’re writing about a challenging project, discuss not just the struggle but how it impacted you personally and professionally.

Besides, add unique details that only you can share. Instead of generic descriptions, use specific anecdotes or sensory details, like how the scent of freshly baked cookies from your grandmother's kitchen made you feel nostalgic.

Last but not least, incorporate dialogues or direct quotes from people involved in your story to add authenticity and depth. For instance, if your mentor gave you advice, include their exact words to capture the moment’s impact. This approach will help you understand how to write a personal narrative that is both engaging and deeply personal.

Not sure where to begin? You can always buy a narrative essay from experts who can help shape your story.

Step 6: Editing for Clarity and Style

When you’re editing your personal narratives, the goal is to make sure everything flows smoothly and makes sense. Here’s how to get it just right:

• Clarify Your Message: Check for any parts of your story that might be a bit confusing. If you talked about being excited about a project and then suddenly shifted to its challenges, make sure to connect these thoughts clearly. For instance, you might rephrase it as “I was excited about the project, but I soon faced some unexpected challenges, like tight deadlines.”
• Simplify Complex Sentences: Break down long or complicated sentences. Instead of saying, “My enthusiasm for the project, which was incredibly high despite the difficulties I faced, was the driving force behind my perseverance,” you could simplify it to, “Even though the project was tough, my excitement kept me going.”
• Smooth Transitions: Check how your paragraphs and sections flow together. If you jump from describing a problem to the solution without a clear link, add a transition. For example, “After struggling with the project’s challenges, I realized that asking my mentor for help was the key to overcoming the obstacles.”

Oh, and read your narrative out loud. This can help you spot any awkward phrases or spots where the story might be a bit choppy. It’s a great way to catch any issues and make those final tweaks to get everything just right.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Here are ten personal narrative prompts to get you thinking about different moments in your life:

Need more tips on how to get started? Check out this guide on how to start a narrative essay to kick off your writing with a strong opening.

Personal Narrative Examples

Here are a few personal narrative beginnings to spark your creativity. These snippets are designed to get you started and inspire your own storytelling.

Wrapping Up

As you finish up your story, think about how those moments shaped who you are today. It's not just about what happened, but how it changed you. When learning how to write a personal narrative, it’s important to focus on the moments that truly matter to you and tell them in your own voice. This way, your narrative can really connect with others. 

Remember, the best stories come straight from the heart, so trust yourself and let your experiences shine through!

If you're working on a personal statement, you might want to explore a personal statement service that can help you create a compelling narrative.

Turn Memories into Masterpieces

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How to Start a Personal Narrative?

Can a personal narrative be about anything, what is the format of a personal narrative.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• The New York Times. (2020, January 7). Personal Narrative Essay Winners. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/learning/personal-narrative-essay-winners.html

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Drew Barrymore Reveals Reason She's Not Ready for Her Kids to Have Phones: 'Going to Become the Parent I Needed'

"Remember my childhood? How are we allowing kids to just have this much access? For brains that are not fully developed?" Barrymore writes on Instagram

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Drew Barrymore is opening up about her thoughts on letting her daughters have cellphones and sharing how her own upbringing has impacted her feelings.

On Friday, Aug. 30, the actress, 49, shared a lengthy post on Instagram titled "Phone Home," in which she discussed her childhood experience with "no guardrails" and how she's providing more guidelines for her daughters Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, whom she shares with ex Will Kopelman – especially when it comes to having a phone.

Barrymore explains that she gave into the pressure and got her older daughter her first cell phone for her 11th birthday, "only to be used on weekends and for a limited time with no social media."

She continued, "Within three months, I gathered the data of the texts and the behavior. I was shocked by the results... I printed out every single text onto paper. I handed her a stack of pages and said this is not a black void that these travel to. They're permanent somewhere where we don't see it, so we don't believe in its retraceable and damning nature if we fail digitally to act with decency."

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What Barrymore ended up discovering through this "experiment," is "simply that I am not ready either to allow my kids to have a phone," and so she took Olive's phone away. The decision was "not because she did anything wrong, but because it was not time yet," she said.

"Remember my childhood ? How are we allowing kids to just have this much access? For brains that are not fully developed? And group texts?" the mom of two asked.

"These texts can get so toxic," she added, "and we must protect our children from being put in scenarios where they cannot always control the rhetoric of the multiple-party dynamics that get put on record on a cloud only to potentially haunt them one day."

In today's digital-first world, Barrymore shared that, "most of all, I want to let parents know that we can live with our children's discomfort in having to wait. We can be vilified and know we are doing what we now know to be a safer, slower, and scaffolded approach."

In trying to move forward and create a safer solution, Barrymore said she has done "deep research," including having conversations with developmental physiologists, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and employees at Apple like Jony Ive, "who designed the iPhone."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Taylor Hill/WireImage

Barrymore continued, sharing, "I am going to become the parent I needed. The adult I needed," she urged, "and I want to have the voices in my head saying, 'I'm trying ... I'm trying.' Because that's all we can do."

"Try to figure this all out, for ourselves and those we are designated to take care of," she continued. "Maybe the kids will become the model of balance and take ownership in knowing they are doing something powerful."

"If only they had that ideal device."

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Surgeon General: Parents Are at Their Wits’ End. We Can Do Better.

By Vivek H. Murthy

Dr. Murthy is the surgeon general.

One day when my daughter was a year old, she stopped moving her right leg. Tests found that she had a deep infection in her thigh that was dangerously close to her bone. She was rushed off to surgery. Thankfully, she’s now a healthy, spirited young girl, but the excruciating days we spent in the hospital were some of the hardest of my life. My wife, Alice, and I felt helpless and heartbroken. We got through it because of excellent medical care, understanding workplaces and loved ones who showed up and reminded us that we were not alone.

When I became a parent, a friend told me I was signing up for a lifetime of joy and worry. The joys are indeed abundant, but as fulfilling as parenting has been, the truth is it has also been more stressful than any job I’ve had. I’ve had many moments of feeling lost and exhausted. So many parents I encounter as I travel across America tell me they have the same experience: They feel lucky to be raising kids, but they are struggling, often in silence and alone.

The stress and mental health challenges faced by parents — just like loneliness , workplace well-being and the impact of social media on youth mental health — aren’t always visible, but they can take a steep toll. It’s time to recognize they constitute a serious public health concern for our country. Parents who feel pushed to the brink deserve more than platitudes. They need tangible support. That’s why I am issuing a surgeon general’s advisory to call attention to the stress and mental health concerns facing parents and caregivers and to lay out what we can do to address them.

A recent study by the American Psychological Association revealed that 48 percent of parents say most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared with 26 percent of other adults who reported the same. They are navigating traditional hardships of parenting — worrying about money and safety, struggling to get enough sleep — as well as new stressors, including omnipresent screens, a youth mental health crisis and widespread fear about the future.

Stress is tougher to manage when you feel you’re on your own, which is why it’s particularly concerning that so many parents, single parents most of all, report feeling lonelier than other adults . Additionally, parents are stretched for time. Compared with just a few decades ago, mothers and fathers spend more time working and more time caring for their children , leaving them less time for rest, leisure and relationships. Stress, loneliness and exhaustion can easily affect people’s mental health and well-being. And we know that the mental health of parents has a direct impact on the mental health of children.

All of this is compounded by an intensifying culture of comparison, often amplified online, that promotes unrealistic expectations of what parents must do. Chasing these expectations while trying to wade through an endless stream of parenting advice has left many families feeling exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Deviance — Positive Deviance Examples

Positive Deviance Examples

• Categories: Deviance

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Published: Mar 13, 2024

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Informal deviance refers to behaviors that violate social norms but are not necessarily illegal. These behaviors may include things like talking loudly in a movie theater, cutting in line, or wearing inappropriate attire to a [...]

In his thought-provoking essay, "Defining Deviancy Down," Daniel Patrick Moynihan explores the intriguing concept of how societies adapt to increasing levels of deviant behavior and redefine what is considered normal. This essay [...]

Social norms play a significant role in shaping society and determining acceptable behavior. However, these norms are not fixed and can change over time. What was once considered typical may now be deemed unacceptable. One [...]

Deviance is an integral part of every society and represents a normal variation of human behavior. As societal norms and values are established, social control mechanisms are put in place to regulate and punish deviant behavior. [...]

The life of a human is governed by the social norms and rules created within society. According to Anthony Giddens there’s another side to the story and that is, the norms and rules that get broken Giddens 1989. A Crime is known [...]

The study of deviance as a subset of sociology has a tendency to focus on the more common forms of deviance, such as petty crime and theft. These examples are plentiful and are not hard to come by. The theories and definitions [...]

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