Ateneo de Davao University

Social Work Department

SOCWK 2135 - Social Work and Social Deviation 8-117

Name: Raphaelle Marie H. Amoroso Section: SocWk 2-A

Term Paper: The Categories of Deviance

Deviance is described as behaviors in a sociological environment that violate informal

social norms or formally enforced norms. Deviant conduct is defined as behavior that goes

against social systems' normative rules, knowledge, and understanding, or expectations. This is

the most specific meaning of the term, and it is in this context that it will be used. Formal and

informal deviance are the two categories of deviance.

Formally established laws in our society fall under the first category of deviance, known

as formal deviance. Theft, rape, and abuse are examples of formal deviance. The transgression

of informal social norms or standards that are not defined as laws is referred to as informal

deviance. Examples include being loud in public and cutting in line. Deviant behaviors, in

general, can be characterized as socially disvalued behavior and situations. Traumatic brain

injury, mental disorders, different physical abnormalities and impairments, all types of sickness,

psychological problems, and criminality are all included in this classification.

John Hagen (1994) proposes a paradigm for categorizing deviant activities based on

their perceived dangers, the degree of agreement on the norms violated, and the degree of the

people's response to the behavior. The most severe acts of deviation are consensus crimes, on

which the public is almost agreed. Murder and sexual assault are widely seen as despicable,

harmful, and punishable by severe punishments.

but have a lot of public opinion about how severe they are. Acts like harassing a serving staff or

behaviors resulting from psychological disorders and substance abuse are examples of social

deviations, which are not unlawful in and of themselves but are often viewed as dangerous or

damaging. Lastly, there are social diversions such as riding skateboards on sidewalks or getting

facial piercings, which defy social standards in a provocative way yet are generally seen as

unappealing but harmless.

The social environment of deviance shapes it. It is vital to grasp the background,

the existing norms, and how these rules came to be established in order to comprehend why

some behaviors are deviant, and others are not. When the rules change, so does what

constitutes deviance. It's only natural that, as rules and standards vary through time and among

cultures, so do perceptions of deviance. Whether an act is deviant is determined by how society

defines that conduct. Actions do not constitute deviance in and of themselves. Individuals are

labeled deviant or come to see themselves as deviant as a result of social contact. It's not just

about the events that lead authority to label an activity or group of people as deviant, and it's

also about the methods through which people behave to see themselves as deviant.

During our previous discussions, we have learned that deviance has several categories.

The first category of deviance is Mental Disorders, and there are many types of mental

disorders, each with its own set of symptoms. They are defined by a mix of abnormal thoughts,

experiences, emotions, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Anxiety, decreased cognitive

functioning, unusual conduct, emotional problems, and/or maladaptive behavior are all

characteristics of a mental disorder. Because of this, people suffering from mental disorders are

unable to form normal social relationships with other people. Those who cannot fully understand

people who suffer from mental illnesses or mental disorders isolate themselves without trying to

understand what is the leading cause of the problem.

behavior. They might be short-term or long-term. They can have an impact on a person's

capacity to interact with others and function on a daily basis. Mental disorders are caused by

different actors. An individual's life events, stress or a history of abuse, biological variables such

as chemical anomalies in the brain, a traumatic brain injury, the use of alcohol or illicit drugs,

and feeling lonely or alone are all issues to consider. With this, we must understand why it is

vital to look at these people who are diagnosed with mental disorders individually. Each

individual has their own unique cause or history that has led them to their respective illnesses.

Anxiety disorders or fear can develop into problems if it is extremely intense or prevalent

for an extended period of time. Anxiety disorders include worrying uncontrollably and

excessively for no reason, in particular, finding it challenging to carry out daily tasks,

experiencing panic attacks and uneasy feelings on a regular basis, feelings of anxiety after

being exposed to a distressing experience in the past, and fear about an object or location that

is irrational, such as the fear of entering automobiles because you believe you won't be able to

get out because of trauma.

Everybody experiences feelings of anxiety. Because of this, it's tough to say when it's

time to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can be resolved. However, the

severity of the problem should not be underestimated. If a person is experiencing any

symptoms, it's advisable to get professional help. Anxiety disorders can be treated with

medication, therapy or counseling, or a combination of both. Through our previous lessons, we

learned that a person could learn to cope with anxiety. People utilize a variety of tactics,

including positive thinking, stress management, and adopting a balanced lifestyle. It can be

difficult to handle anxiety on your own, so it is vital to seek help from professionals.
We were also able to understand what mood disorders are. A mood disorder is a type of

mental illness that affects an individual's emotional wellbeing. It's a mental disorder in which the

individual experiences continuous periods of excessive happiness, misery, or sometimes both.

It's natural for a person's mood to shift based on different circumstances. Indications of a mood

disorder, on the other hand, must be present for a few weeks or more to be diagnosed. Mood

problems can alter your actions or even personality and impair your capacity to cope with

everyday tasks. Depression and bipolar illness are two of the most common mood disorders.

Depression is a prevalent form of mental illness. Sadness is a common reaction to a

painful life event or crisis, such as the death of someone special, the loss of a job, or the

diagnosis of a severe medical condition. When depression persists long after stressful

circumstances have passed or when there is no obvious explanation, it is classified as clinical or

severe depression by doctors. Signs have to last at least two weeks for a person to be

recognized with clinical depression. Bipolar disorder can be characterized by mood swings that

range from depression to hyperactivity. When someone is in a bad mood, the symptoms can be

similar to people who are diagnosed with clinical depression. Depending on what type of illness,

there could be numerous underlying causes. Mood disorders have been linked to a variety of

genetic, biological, social, and other factors.

Schizoaffective disorder is a long-term mental illness marked by signs of schizophrenia,

such as hallucinations, as well as symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression. This

disorder distorts a person's view of reality. Several persons with schizoaffective illness are

sometimes inaccurately classified at first with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Since the

schizoaffective disorder is less well-studied than the other two illnesses, numerous strategies

are adopted from their therapeutic interventions. The indicators of schizoaffective disorder can

be serious, so it's important to keep an eye on them.

have been diagnosed with, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms include

hallucinations, delusions, and jumbled thinking. A person may go from one issue to the next

quickly or give replies that are utterly unconnected. Drugs, such as mood stabilizers,

antipsychotic medications, and antidepressants, psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavior

therapy, and self-management techniques and training are all used to treat and control

schizoaffective disorder.

A personality disorder is a mental problem when a person has a strict and harmful way

of thinking, performing, and acting. A person who is suffering from a personality disorder has

difficulty recognizing and responding to situations and people. A person may not recognize that

he/she has a personality disorder since their style of thinking and acting appears natural for

them. These people may also blame others for their difficulties. Personality refers to a person's

distinctive combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It's how people see the world,

comprehend it, and react to it, as well as how they see themselves.

During childhood, a person's personality emerges, formed by the interaction of his or her

genes. Through inherited DNA, their parents may pass on certain personality traits to them.

These characteristics are referred to as your nature. It might also be because of their

surroundings, including where they grew up, events that occurred, and interactions with the

people around them. Personality disorders can cause major disruption in the lives of both the

individual with the disease and the people around them, like their family and close friends.

Personality disorders can lead to social isolation, as well as problems with their relationships

and their daily lives. They can also lead to alcoholism and substance abuse.
Lastly, we also discussed eating disorders. Eating disorders are behavioral problems

marked by significant and persistent changes in eating habits, as well as disturbing feelings and

thoughts. They can be life-threatening illnesses that disrupt a person's physical, mental, and

social functioning. Eating disorders frequently relate to other psychiatric diseases, the most

prevalent of which are mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and issues

with substance abuse. Research shows both genes and heredity play a role in why some

individuals are more likely to develop an eating disorder, but eating disorders can affect people

who have no family history of the problem. Psychological, behavioral, dietary, and other medical

issues should all be addressed throughout treatment.

Although public perceptions of mental disorders have improved in recent decades,

research reveals that stigma against mental illness remains strong, owing in part to media

portrayals and a lack of understanding and that people prefer to associate mental health

illnesses with negative stigmas. Because of our previous discussions, I have gained a lot of new

insights about the importance of understanding people who suffer from different types of

disorders. As a future social worker, I need and understand more about the different disorders

that my future clients may have. I really became interested in our previous topics because

clinical social work is one of the fields I want to work with in the future. Clinical social workers

can also help in identifying and treating a client's mental health issues. They can help with

depression, anxiety, family troubles, and other emotional and behavioral disorders through

individual, family, and group therapy. Clinical social workers could work in private practice or at a

mental health or therapy center.

It's essential that as a future social worker, I understand that I am not helping the clients

alone but the people surrounding them, like their family and close friends. Social workers must

connect with clients in order to understand them better. The principle of non-judgemental
attitude is vital in this type of practice because social workers deal and interact with different

clients diagnosed with different types of disorders every day.

References:

Lumen Learning: Boundless Sociology. (nd). “Deviance”. Retrieved from:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/deviance/

Libraries. (nd). “Explaining Deviance”. Retrieved from:

https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/7-2-explaining-deviance/

Lumen Learning: Boundless Sociology.(nd). “Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance”. Retrieved

from:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/theoretical-perspectives-on-deviance/

MedlinePlus. (nd). “Mental Disorders”. Retrieved from:

https://medlineplus.gov/mentaldisorders.html

White Swan Foundation. (2015). “Anxiety Disorders”. Retrieved from:

https://www.whiteswanfoundation.org/disorders/anxiety-and-related-disorders/anxiety?gclid=Cj0

KCQjwvO2IBhCzARIsALw3ASp3KI2aioapWw-GoqulWhibwaXMuX4hn4WJov3lgiRpTWPprN-Fa

xEaAhaOEALw_wcB

Cleveland Clinic. (2018). “Mood Disorders”. Retrieved from:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17843-mood-disorders
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (nd). “Schizoaffective Disorder”. Retrieved from:

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizoaffective-Disorder

American Psychiatric Association. (nd). “What Are Eating Disorders?”. Retrieved from:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders