“To adapt unusual Social Behavior other then on going Social Patterns is Social Deviation” ( David Popnoe )
“No system of Social control works perfectly. Some persons fail to behave as expected in known societies, although nonconformity may be defined as Social Deviation.” (Edgerton, 1976)
Kinds of Social Deviation
1. Disapproved
Some people in the society violate the existing patterns and rules of the society for their personal benefits e.g. Criminals, robbers, smugglers etc. this is a sort of disapproved deviation.
2. Approved
There are some people in the society who do not like the prevalent norms and laws. They consider their right to violate such norms and laws. They express their violation through their words and acts. They do not hide from the others. They even instigate others to imitate them. Such people are normally called revolutionary people which is some how approved in different societies.
3. Relative and Absolute Deviation
Most people in modern societies are neither completely conformist nor completely deviant. A completely deviant person would have a hard time staying alive. Even extreme spectacular deviants, such as pyromaniacs, revolutionists, or hermits, are generally fairly conventional in some of their activities. And nearly all normal people occasionally deviate. (Wallerstein and Wyle, 1974; Gold, 1970). It is clear that nearly everyone in our society is deviant to some degree, but some are more frequently and broadly deviant than others, and some conceal their deviant actions more fully than others.
It can be said that a deviant is one who does openly what others do secretly.
Causes of Social Deviation
1. Lack in Socialization
Socialization plays vital role in forming a good and responsible citizen. If the process of socialization is not given proper attention then the degree of social deviation increases in society.
This is usually due to lack in socialization by the relevant social institution such as family.
2. Ridged
If the culture of society is un-flexible and un-compatible to the changing circumstances, the new generation expresses its anxiety over this rigidity. They deviate from such norms e.g. the norm inter caste marriages exchanged.
3. Unpopular Social Laws
In some cases the governments intact such laws which may be in the interest of the government but not in the general publics interest. People deliberately deviate from them and protest against such things.
4. Extra Ordinary Exploitation
If any group or nation is suffering from extra ordinary exploitation then such group or nation may deviate and protest over the exploitation to attract the attention of the government or international community. e.g. the object of freedom fighter in Kashmir is to attract the attention of Indian Government and international community towards their rights of self determination.
5. Cultural Invasion
If a societies culture is begin invaded in some form to an extreme degree the people deviate from their on cultural patterns and adopt the invaders cultural patterns. e.g. the eastern world is heavily influenced by the western world through media, as a result traces of westernization can be seen in countries such as Pakistan and India.
