Running head: DEVIANCE 1

Positive Deviance

Name

Institution
DEVIANCE 2

Positive Deviance

My first encounter with positive deviance, occurred a few days after the assignment was

assigned. A young Muslim girl at the store was at the receiving end of racial slurs from a two

young adult men because she was wearing a hijab. Disgusted by their outbursts, I intervened and

called them out on their misappropriation, and disrespect for others religion. This particular act

was not planned, but when I experienced the level of discrimination of other cultures in today’s

society, I discovered that every individual ought to be taught the value of multiculturalism. Each

and everyone’s cultural practices and beliefs ought to be respected. This is especially important

to the young girl who was did not have to go through life believing that she embodied a

stereotype. I wanted her to know that someone was on her side, and that it was okay to stand up

for herself. In general, while trying to protect a young girl, I felt like I was doing my duty. It is

mine and everyone’s responsibility to ensure that young children grow up in a society that is

safe. While I may have helped the girl; the two young adult men were not patient with being

called out for their actions. Their first reaction was to attempt to start an argument but I was

more concerned with the wellbeing of the young girl. Additionally, I believe that male

dominance made the young men feel entitled.

The second encounter occurred while I was walking past a hospital, and I decided to walk

in and sign up for a volunteer program. This act was premeditated, and when the day to volunteer

came, I was assigned to help hospital staff around. I chose this act because, I believe that hospital

personnel are already doing so much, and could use all the help they can get. I felt fulfilled and

proud of myself throughout the whole process. I may not have been doing much, but I paved way

for the personnel to help sick people. I felt appreciated at the hospital, but I did try to stay out of

the way so as not to be a distraction. In this instance the suffering I witnessed in patients, and the
DEVIANCE 3

exhaustion in some of the medical staff greatly affected my interactive decisions, whether to

speak up, complement them, or stay away.

The final act of kindness that I conducted was to just be polite to an exhausted waiter at a

restaurant. The young man forgot a part of my order twice, and was worried that I was going to

react in an aggressive manner. It was evident that the waiter was busy and had had a long day. I

understood from his body language that he was exhausted; and that he was doing his best and

while it took a while the completed order was just right. The waiter appeared grateful for the

consideration extended to him, as if people my age were not as understanding. There was relief

on his face, and I understood the concept of conflict theory. Constantly, the young waiter had

suffered irate clients as a worker. Mostly, this experiences helped to teach me the value of

respect for all individuals and that acts of kindness, and that an ideal type of society was one

where diversity was celebrated, equality was enhanced, and understanding was extended.
DEVIANCE 4

References

Bala, N., & Daniel, I. (2013). A conceptual overview of deviance and its implication to mental

health: a bio psychosocial perspective. International Journal of Humanities and Social

Science invention. 2(12). Retrieved 30 March, 2018 from:

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7865/f5670bab852ba678f0183ceaee4fd0f9328e.pdf

Ferris, Kerry and Stein, Jill. 2016. The Real World 5e. New York: W. W. Norton.

Gronning, T. (2017). Ideal type. Retrieved 30 March, 2018 from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322254611_Ideal_Type

Oberschall, A. (n.d.). Conflict theory. Retrieved 30 March, 2018 from:

http://www.unc.edu/~tonob/conflicttheory.pdf