Legal Definitions - deviance

Deviance refers to the act or state of departing from established standards, rules, or expected behaviors, particularly within a social or professional context.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Corporate Environmental Compliance

  A manufacturing company consistently releases wastewater into a local river without proper treatment, despite clear environmental regulations and industry best practices that mandate specific filtration processes. This action is considered deviance because the company is departing from established legal and ethical norms regarding environmental protection and corporate responsibility.

• Example 2: Professional Ethical Conduct

  A financial advisor uses client funds for personal investments, directly violating professional codes of conduct and legal requirements that demand client assets be kept separate and managed solely for the client's benefit. This behavior represents deviance as it significantly departs from the established ethical and legal norms governing financial professionals.

• Example 3: Social Etiquette in a Formal Setting

  During a formal academic conference, a speaker arrives significantly late, interrupts other presenters, and uses casual, inappropriate language throughout their session, despite the clear expectations for punctuality, respect, and professional discourse. This conduct is an example of deviance because it departs from the established social and professional norms expected in such a formal academic environment.