LEARNIN

G
OBJECTIVES

After studying this module, you as a future

social worker should be able to demonstrate
understanding on the basics of deviance and
its relevance to social work practice.

Specifically, you are able to:

a) explain selected categories of social

deviations and societal reactions;
b) describe the implications of social
deviation to social welfare and social work
practice;
c) demonstrate appreciation on the value of
knowledge based for understanding
deviant behaviors and implications to
social functioning and relationships with
society; and
d) ​show respect to diversities in the
interpretation of social deviation​.

OVERVIEW
This module presents you the introduction of
Social Deviance focusing on the foundation of
social work, nature of deviance, and societal
reactions.

The overall concepts on social deviation and

implications to social welfare, social protection
and social work practice will demonstrate to
you the value of knowledge-based for
understanding deviant behaviors with respect
to human diversities.
 Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |1
diverse behavior as it promotes social
change and development.
Social workers are particularly concerned to
ACTIVATIN
understand the deviant, abnormal behavior
G
of clients, so as to provide more effective
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
social services.

Social work functions and treatment

Have you heard the term “Deviance” before?
If so, what is the first thing that comes to
your mind when you hear, “deviance” or
“deviants”?
SOCIAL WORK
FOUNDATION
Well, to have a clearer picture of the answer,
let us consider first the view of social work to
such societal behaviors based on its definition
as amplified at national and/or regional
levels:
“Social work is a practice-based profession and
an academic discipline that promotes social
change and development, social cohesion, and
the empowerment and liberation of people.
Principles of social justice, human rights,
collective responsibility and respect for
diversities are central to social work.
Underpinned by theories of social work, social
sciences, humanities and indigenous
knowledge, social work engages people and
structures to address life challenges and
enhance wellbeing.”
https://tinyurl.com/yyjqo9z4
▸ ​This means that social work recognizes
processes are clarified as having essential
elements of moral helpfulness to people
with regard to their deviant behavior. These
aspects merit greater attention in the
development of practice theory and
method.
There is considerable question, controversy
and confusion among social workers
concerning what is normal, deviant or
pathological about the behavior of clients. A
major aspect of this situation is the high
value we place on sociocultural diversity,
and on tolerance for a wide range of
deviant behavior and “alternative life
styles.” Yet social workers need to be
particularly clear about the nature and
meanings of the behavior of clients in order
to be effective. Most social workers are
employed in mental health settings and
more social workers treat mentally
disordered people than do any other
helping profession. The confusions and
disagreements about these matters weaken
our ability to fulfill certain basic functions of
the social work profession in society.
Therefore, it is helpful to consider how we
can better understand what is abnormal,
deviant and pathological behavior for our
present time, which is one of rapid,
enormous and confusing social change. The
 concern here is limited largely to that form
of abnormal behavior categorized as mental Read More​: ​https://tinyurl.com/yyqodrg5
disorder.

Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |2

Furthermore, social workers are anchored to
its seven guiding principles (as proposed by
Felix Biestek) to ensure inclusivity and
objective view on societal realities:
Application of Social Work Concepts= 15
Output shall be encoded/handwritten with your
complete name sent thru the google classroom.

❖ ​individualization,
❖ ​acceptance,
❖ ​self-determination, ​NATURE OF DEVIANCE
❖ ​controlled emotional involvement,
❖ ​confidentiality,
❖ ​non-judgmental attitude and What is deviance?
❖ ​purposeful expression of feelings.
▸ ​A behavior, beliefs, or characteristics that are
likely to generate a negative reaction in others
such as engaging in acts of prostitution,
LEARNIN bribing a gov’t official, using heroin,
G robbing a bank, crossing beyond the
ACTIVITY 1 pedestrian, homosexuality, mental illness,
engaging in pre-marital sex, violating traffic
rules, spitting somewhere else, etc.
Objective: ​Apply the Philosophical Foundation
of Social Work in relation to understanding ▸ ​It is the recognized violation of all kinds of
human behavior. cultural norms from mild breaches of
etiquette to dangerous acts of violence.
Task:

Tell a story about your community in which

certain individual/groups try to negate from
the social norms.

In the situation, identify social work ​Watch thru:

concepts/principles specifically needed in https://tinyurl.com/y4gmbxed
(This YouTube video discusses other
order to understand the behavior. (30 relevant definitions and nature of
points) deviance)

You are rated based on the rubrics below:

Who/What is defined as deviant?
Content = 10 ;
Grammar ​= ​5 ;
 ▸ ​Both ​acts ​and ​individuals​ (and even ▸ ​Low status persons (e.g. ethnic
entire groups) can be defined as minorities, poor people) are more
deviant: “Condemn the sin, love the likely to be perceived as deviant, their
sinner,” “aliens”, “misfits” etc. good ​behavior “explained away”

Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |3

▸ ​Higher status persons (e.g. priests, doctors) are
less likely to be defined as deviant,
​ ehavior “explained away.”
their ​bad b
Types of Deviance
▸ ​Positive Deviance ​may gain public
acceptance which includes same sex
marriage, sex organ transplant, and the
medical use of marijuana.
▸ ​Negative deviance ​involves behavior that fails to avoidance, or any other types of negative social
meet accepted norms. People
expressing ​negative deviance ​either
reject the norms, misinterpret the norms, or are
unaware of the norms.
▸ ​Attitudes, Beliefs - ​refers to unpopular,
unconventional beliefs that may or may
not manifest themselves in overt actions.
▸ ​Behavior ​– ​is made up of any overt action which
includes the failure to act that is likely to attract
condemnation, hostility or punishment.
▸ ​Conditional characteristics - ​includes physical
characteristics or traits that, likewise make
someone a target of an audience’s disapproval,
reactions.
▹ ​Ascribed characteristics
▹ ​Achieved
▹ ​Choices or “agency”

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
Identify which among the following are considered
positive deviance in our country? Encode your
answers. Explain why. (15)

a) Gluttony
b) Incestuous relationship
Retrieved from: from: ​http://slideplayer.com/slide/12865432 c) Rape

d) Same sex marriage

Issues to be Aware of in Defining Deviance
e) Righteousness
Individual properties relevant to a deviant status: f) Boxing
g) Meddling
ABCs of Deviance: (Adler and Adler, p.13)

A. ESSENTIALISM- (Objective Deviance)
COMPONENTS OF DEVIANCE
1. Norm- standard set by the society that
one must follow.
2. Violator- someone who violates or
departs from the standard.
3. Audience- someone who judges and
compares the set standard to that of the
action of a person.
4. Negative Reaction from the Audience
through criticisms, condemnation, censure,
stigma and disapproval
LEARNING ACTIVITY 3
Make a situation covering the Four
Components of Deviance (20
points)
You are rated based on the rubrics below:
Content = 10 ; Grammar ​= ​5 ; Relevance= 15
Approaches to Deviance:
Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |4
Deviance exists objectively; its
occurrence, rate and distribution can be
explained scientifically.
Fundamental Assumptions of
Essentialism/Positivist Perspective:
▸ ​Absolutism
Positivist perspective holds deviance to be
absolutely or intrinsically real, in that it
possesses some qualities that distinguish it
from conventionality. Deviant persons
assumed to have certain characteristics that
make them diff from conventional others.
Focus on deviant behavior n deviant
persons.
Ten Commandments (Exodus)
Thou shalt have no other gods
before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image … ​
Thou shalt not take the name of the
lord thy God in vain
Remember the sabbath day, to
keep it holy
Honor thy father and thy mother
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
 Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's
house, Etc.
▸ ​Objectivism
To positivist sociologists deviant behavior
▸ ​Determinism
According to positivist perspective, deviance is
determined or caused by forces beyond the
individual's control. Choices and decisions of
free will determined by some causes, no
inconsistency between freedom and causality.
Deviance is not attributed to human choice.
B. CONSTRUCTIONISM (Subjective Deviance)
- ​Deviance exists subjectively; it arrives at
phenomenon, dependent on time and place,
society, culture, observer and enactor.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVIANCE
The influence of deviant milieu on society,
distribution of its morals, increase in number of
different manifestations of deviance (criminal
behavior, suicide behavior, dependent
behavior), all this is a reality of a contemporary
social situation. Deviance is unavoidable. No
matter how deep the religious upbringing of one
culture is, there will always be someone who
will go against the expectations of most
members of society.
Below is the chart of the characteristics of
deviance:
is an observable object in that a deviant
person is like an object, a real something
that can be studied objectively, try to
follow the scientific rule that all their
ideas about deviant behavior should be
subject to public test.
Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |5
Retrieved from: ​https://tinyurl.com/yyqodrg5​ ​Read more:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1120216.pdf
Forms of Deviance:
A. SOCIETAL DEVIANCE​- includes acts,
beliefs and conditions that are ​widely
condemned pretty much throughout the
society. ​“High-consensus” deviance
e.g. crimes and those covered by the
national policies
B. SITUATIONAL DEVIANCE- ​is whatever
attracts condemnation, censure,
punishment, scorn and stigma ​specifically
in particular groups or social circles​.
e.g. religious form of deviance (eating
blood, pre marital sex to muslims); and for
policy related (not wearing of helmet to
certain regions)
LEARNING ACTIVITY 4

Task: ​Categorize the form of deviance:
Encode your answer. 5 pts. each (20
points)
1. ​_________________ ​2.
Module 1 -
FUNCTIONS
OF DEVIANCE ​Is deviance all that
bad? No…
▸ ​Cultural Norms and Values – seeing
someone suffer or be punishable for a
deviant act reinforces what society sees as
an acceptable or unacceptable behavior.
▸ ​Deviance clarifies moral boundaries and
teaches us right from wrong – engaging in
deviant behavior helps us differentiate
right from wrong because if you are
punished, deviant behavior will gradually
disappear.
▸ ​It brings people together – people become
united in their shared responses to
deviance. It make us feel like we are a part
of the group
▸ ​It encourages social change.
▸ ​Creates jobs such as Social workers, Police,
DEA, Counselors, Therapists, Doctors,
Professors
_________________ ​3. ​.
_________________
4
.
​__________________
Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |6
SUMMARY
Let us see if you can remember the main points
raised in this lesson. Below is a summary of
these points:
Social workers are particularly concerned to
understand the deviant, abnormal behavior of
clients, so as to provide more effective social
services.
Social Deviance is a behavior, beliefs, or
characteristics that are likely to generate a
negative reaction in others be it positive or
negative deviance hence, it is unavoidable
Deviance exists either objectively or
subjectively; it arrives at phenomenon,
dependent on time and place, society,
culture, observer and enactor.
Certain behavior can still be considered
deviant whether it is widely condemned
 pretty much throughout the society or
specifically in particular groups or social
circles.
REFERENCES
Readings:
▸ ​News and film analysis, group
discussion/synthesis, group presentation,
field trips, workshops
▸ ​Adler, P.A. & Adler, P. 2009. ​Constructions
of deviance: Social power, context, and
interaction. C ​ anada: Thomson Wadsworth.
▸ ​Clinard, M. &Meier, R. 2008. ​Sociology of
deviant behavior. C ​ A: Thomson
Wadsworth.
▸ ​Goode, E. 2005. ​Deviant behavior​. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall.
▸ ​Liska, A. 2010. ​Perspectives on deviance.
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
▸ ​Ward, D. et al. 2004. ​Social deviance:
Being, behaving and branding.​Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
References:
▸ ​https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article
abstract/41/3/576/1676980?redirectedFr
o m=fulltext
▸ ​http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/
4639.html
▸ ​http://www.d.umn.edu/~jwilson2/ ​▸
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1120
216.pdf
Module 1 - Nature and Foundations of Deviance ​Page |7