Social Deviance: What is it? The topic of social deviance encompasses such a wide range of ideas. Something as enormously significant as the Holocaust, as well as something as seemingly insignificant as not covering your mouth while coughing, are both seen as acts of social deviance. Social deviance being any act contrary to what is accepted in one's society, it seems almost impossible not to be socially deviant, at least occasionally. Today, not only the culture in America, but also the culture of human beings as a whole, has been transformed by socially deviant acts. Some of these historical transformations have been positive. Others don't. Regardless of the outcome, most acts of deviance are committed in an attempt to improve society. If the opposite effect is experienced, society reverts to its previous structure. For less significant acts of deviance, tolerance is often the result of continued deviance, although it is possible that continued deviance leads to a greater emphasis on cultural norms. An example in America of such an act is, as mentioned before, not saying “God bless you” after another's sneeze. Society may evolve to ignore the lack of etiquette or to chastise anyone who does not conform to this mannerism. Social deviance is how society introduces change. Whether accepted or rejected, social deviance actually serves a purpose other than simply contradicting social norms. America: A Nation of Challenge The United States of America was not always the United States of America. Long before the United States became an independent nation, we were under the rule of the British monarchy. Before this, were we an unknown land inhabited chiefly by I...... middle of paper ......benefit as we did when we abolished slavery, or will we suffer from the loss of morals and the corruption of tradition? Change is good, but we must never forget where we came from. To change too completely is to become ignorant and forget the reason for the change in the first place. If we Americans want to reach the pinnacle of economic, political, and social tranquility, we must learn to challenge society at its weakest points and build defenses at its strongest. We need to define what is important and what is crucial to our way of life. All groups and acts that differ from the ideal society must be met with aggressive force. Not a total rejection, but certainly not a total acceptance and renunciation of the ideals of the past. Social deviance can be an advantage, but only if people remember their morals and become objectively altruistic will our society truly benefit from it.