Positive Deviance
Deviance is defined as “behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society.” Criminal behavior is considered deviant but not all deviant behavior is criminal. Everyone has engaged in deviance at one time or another, though it may not have been criminal. Deviance may involve simply violating a folkway such as coming to class in evening attire or wearing stiletto heels on a beach. It may involve loud belching during dinner when a friend invites you to share a family meal. (In some cultures that is acceptable but not generally in the U.S.) Everyone has engaged in deviance at one time or another, though it may not have been criminal.
Positive deviance is a concept that is rarely addressed in introductory sociology books although the definition provided by Schaefer applies to it, too, as it is behavior that violates expectations of a group or society, only positive deviance sets itself apart by exceeding expectations, thus violating them. It can be regarded as going in the opposite direction of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior violates expectations to one extreme (negatively) and positive deviance violates behavior to the other extreme.
For instance, two historical figures have been noted for their positive deviance: Dr. Martin Luther King for his stance on non-violence even when he was repeatedly the victim of extremely harsh violence, and Mother Teresa for devoting her life to helping those sick and abandoned, while willingly exposing herself to fatal diseases as she mingled among them.
Assignment Objectives:
This assignment requires you to engage in
Acts of Positive Deviance
(AOPD)and to then critique (analyze) the interactions.
Measurable Objectives Follow.
At the end of this assignment, students should be able to perform the following tasks:
1. Discuss the concept of positive deviance and how it impacts (encourages, impedes
etc.) social situations.
2. Explain how your age, sex, race, etc. and that of the
recipient influence the outcome of positive deviance.
3. Demonstrate how to “think sociologically” by analyzing each situation involving
positive deviance using sociological concepts, theories, and terminology such as the
social construction of reality, dominant ideology, impression management, etc.
4. Explain how/if this experiment on positive deviance challenges ethnocentric points
of view regarding negative (deviant) labels of some categories of individuals and
groups.
Assignment
1. You are required to conduct four (4) acts of positive deviance (AOPD) between the
present and the due date for this assignment. AOPD may be synonymous with
random acts of kindness.
Note: I expect you to stretch beyond your comfort zones for this assignment. Please
do not identify acts such as "I made up the bed for my sister" or "I took out the trash for my brother since he
was running late for his class." I expect you to really s-t-r-e-t-c-h but stay safe,
2. Only one (1) AOPD can be directed toward a family member, a friend or someone you know. Consider
this as a “warm-up” for the remainder of the experiment.
3. The other AOPDs must be directed toward strangers.
4. One AOPD must involve a person of a race or ethnicity different from your own and cannot
involve a classmate.
5. Please be cautious. There are some unacceptable
situations such as offering/accepting rides
with strangers; approaching strangers in isolated or sparsely-populated areas;
becoming too personal with strangers. Your goal is to use an innocuous, common sense
approach.
6. Do not repeat AOPD.
7. Do not plan in advance what you are going to do in each case. Try to make some of
these AOPD truerandomacts of kindness.
8. You must keep a journal to chronicle your experiences. Journal
entries should address the following foreachof your AOPD:
A. Description of your AOPD.
B. Why you chose to do this particular act.
C. How you felt while doing the AOPD andwhy?
D. How did the recipient react? Speculate as to why.
E. How do you think the age, sex, race (and possibly social class) of the recipient, as well as your own,
affected the situation?
F. You must discuss(not just mention) at least four (4) relevant sociological
terms, concepts, and theories in analyzing your AOPD.
10. The required length of paper 3½ - 4 page paper based on your critique (analysis) of your journal
entries.
Grading:
You will be graded on the degree of completion of the 4 AOPD, the requirements in
8A-8F and adherence to rules of writing (grammar, sentence/paragraph organization and structure, punctuation.)
1. Completion of four (4) AOPD andall(8A-8F) requirements. 40-50 pts.
(Add’l points deducted for failure to adhere to rules of grammar, etc.)etc.)
2.Completion of four (4) AOPD; included items 8 A-8E, but no8F. 30-39pts.
(Add’l points deducted for failure to adhere to rules of grammar, etc.)
3.Completion of three (3) AOPD; included 8A-8F requirements. 20-29
pts.
(Add’l points deducted for failure to adhere to rules of grammar, etc.)
4. Completion of (2) AOPD; included 8A-8E, but no 8F. 10-19 pts.
(Add’l points deducted for failure to adhere to rules of grammar, etc.)
5. Completion of (1) AOPD; included 8A-8E, but no 8F. 1-9 pts.
(Add’l points deducted for failure to adhere to rules of grammar, etc.)
6. Completion of (0) AOPD. 0 pts.
Required length of paper: Equivalence of 3½ - 4 pages, double-spaced.
You will attend a religious service different from your own. (If you are an atheist or otherwisehave an aversionto attending a religiousservice, I would suggest that you choose the other option that you have for this assignment: Positive Deviance.)
After the completion of this assignment,you should be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate how to “think sociologically” by analyzing each component of the
religious serviceusing sociological concepts, theories, and terminology such as the
social construction of reality, dominant ideology, impression management, etc.
2. Explain how /if this experiment on religious culture challenges ethnocentric points
of view regarding negative (deviant) labels of some categories of individuals and
groups.
3. Explain how using cultural relativism can contribute to your growth and understanding of other cultures.
You will complete the study just as you areinstructed in parts 1, 2 and 3, paying particular attention to all of the questions in Part 3, making sure that you answer each thoroughly.
1. Observing Service
Selecta Houseof Worshipandattenda service there.
Any service is fine as long as it is open to the public.If you are unfamiliar withthe House of Worship that you want to attend, you might want to call first to find out if there are any dress codes or other requirements that you need to know before entering. Remember, when you visit your chosen House of Worship, you must behave in a respectful manner. Once there, your task will be to closely observe your surroundings and all that takes place (and in which you might participate.)
2. Write your notes on what you observe.
Since it is probably notappropriate to jot down notes during the service, you may make an effort to write your field notes as soon as you can afterward so you can preserve as many details as possible from the experience. Your fieldnotes shouldcomprise three or more pages and includedescriptions of material and non-material symbolic culture. Consider some of the material culture you might find in the setting, such as the architecture, furniture, decorations, clothing worn by various participants, and other physical objects such as scrolls, books,musical instruments suchas collection plates. You also want to consider the elements ofsymbolic culture featured in the services. Pay close attention to the people there and what they do--their roles, activities, and interactions. Notice how the service is structured.
3. Identifying culture
*What aspects of material culture did you notice? How were things arranged and what were their function?Were any objects used as part of the service?
*What did you notice about language? Was there a text or script for the services? What sources were used (sacredbooks, hymnals, printed programs? Was music play or sung or both?
* Who was present for the service--clergy, congregation, others? Were there adults, children, men, and women? Specific roles held---leaders, helpers, participants?
* When did participants stand, sit, sing, pray, kneel meditate, etc.?
* According to Durkheim, every religion has a set of practices that are designed to connect the holy and the worldlyin some way. Think about the meaning of the different rituals you observed: communion, praying/singing in a designated space. How do rituals help create collective conscience or sense of belonging among the congregants?
* What did you observe that seemed especially unfamiliar to you? What was familiar to you even if it was in an unfamiliar setting? What insights were you able to gain by suspending ethnocentrism and practicing cultural relativism?
Finally, you will discuss at least three (3) concepts and/or theories that appear to be relevant to this assignment.
Write a 3½ - 4 page essayanalyzing your field experiences and taking into consideration the questions in
step 3
.Make sure you refer to your field notes.
The grading rubric is below.
1.Completion of all componentsof assignment in a thorough,scholarly manner.45-50points
2.Completing all components of assignment,mostly in a scholarly manner.36-44.
3.Completing all components of assignment in a cursory or superficial manner.31-35points.
4.Incompletion of one or more components of requirements0-30points.
5.Lack of organization,non-adherence to rules of writing,including spelling,punctuation,sentence structure,capitalization,etc.10-30points.