Everyone, at some point in their life, has most likely committed a deviant act. This is not as inconceivable as it may seem. Deviance is relative to different societal groups and different cultures. Deviance refers to any violation of norms, which vary widely. We are confronted with deviant behavior on a daily basis, particularly in the news. Every day one could hear about harmful deviant acts, such as theft and murder. Even as a high school student, you constantly hear about deviant acts, like that test someone cheated on. Regardless, deviant acts will always be present in society, because people will always follow the norms and consider those who do not follow them as atypical. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The most deviant behavior I have ever been personally exposed to was when my best friend came out as gay. Deviant behaviors vary based on culture and societal values, so for some, homosexuality is not considered deviant. However, for me, I grew up in a Catholic household that didn't have a problem with homosexuals per se, but did have problems with certain aspects of homosexuality. My parents both grew up in homes that taught that a “normal” household consisted of a man, his wife, and their children. However, society is now changing and many people's opinions are changing along with it. The Church will not reform its beliefs anytime soon. My parents view homosexuality as deviant behavior because they chose to be the way they are, to go against the societal norms of a man and a woman being together, settling down and having children . My best friend who came out as gay didn't hurt anyone, physically; however, as high school students going to a private high school, it hurt him more emotionally than anything else. Children can be mean, especially those who don't understand what someone has been through and where they are coming from. Some boys at my school picked on him just because they were afraid he would pick on them, but that wasn't the case at all. My friend tried to fit in, but the other kids at our school just couldn't accept him because they thought being gay wasn't acceptable. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. .Get a Custom EssayDeviance is inevitable, but there is nothing wrong with deviance alone. However, it is people's reactions to deviance that lead to problems. Harmful deviant behaviors should not be tolerated, but deviant behaviors that are not harmful might be viewed differently. Although society will never be free of deviant behavior, the most effective way to deal with it will require many fundamental changes. Works Cited Becker, HS (1963). Outsiders: studies in the sociology of deviance. Free Press. Chambliss, W.J. and Seidman, R. (1982). Law, order and power. Addison Wesley. Clinard, MB and Meier, RF (2011). Sociology of deviant behavior. Wadsworth Publishing. Downes, D.M. and Rock, P. (2007). Understanding deviance: a guide to the sociology of crime and rule breaking. Oxford University Press. Henslin, J.M. (2017). The essentials of sociology: a down-to-earth approach. Pearson. Jensen, G.F., Rojek, D.G., & Steinberg, M. (2016). Deviance and social control: a sociological perspective. Routledge. Merton, R.K..