Positive deviance: An oxymoron

Abstract

By general agreement among sociologists and other specialists, and by speakers of the English language, deviance refers to rule‐breaking and other nonconformity which is viewed in the society in a negative way, and hence reacted to with scorn, hostility, punishment, or an effort to effectuate change. Deviance is a special type of deviation, but the two terms are not interchangeable. The concept of “positive deviance” is and should remain an oxymoron or self‐contradicting phrase, because it would obfuscate rather than clarify, would collapse into one group two ends of continua that have nothing in common except that they do not meet in the middle, and would deprive social analysts of the opportunity to determine why and with what consequences people depart from the normative in a manner that elicits dire consequences, as well as why a more conforming public reacts with hostility to some forms of behavior and statuses. The traditional and accepted concept of deviance should be retained, as it links the stud...