Bullying And Deviance

According to Jon Shepard (2013), deviance is any behavior that departs from societal or group norms (p. 168). Deviance is a very broad topic. It can range from criminal behavior to wearing heavy amounts of makeup. Whether a person is deviant or not may depend on that person’s society or social group. For example, a Mormon would be considered deviant if they did not were very modest clothing. However, other religions may not have a certain dress code for their communities to follow. Another deviance topic that is prevalent in our society is bullying. Bullying is becoming a persuasive problem in all levels of school. Not only are kids facing bullies at school, but with the increase in technology use, kids are able to hurt others through …show more content…
It is a natural instinct. Since the beginning of time, humans have had a continuous drive to out-perform others and overcome obstacles. This survival instinct, along with a competitive atmosphere, has flowed over into the educational, social, and economic realms. This competitive tradition varies across cultures depending on their ethical systems, traditions, and the type of control exerted by the government. As soon as a child is put in school, he or she is taught to be the best they can possibly be. This usually leads to a very competitive drive in students, which eventually can even lead to figuring out corrupt ways to get ahead of the class. Bullies use tactics such as pressuring other students for answers to achieve higher grades. Richard Donegan (2012) states, “These tactics are dangerous because once a student realizes their effectiveness, he or she may construct a lifestyle from them” (p. 34). Sadly, our nation has shaped into a place where bullying is unintentionally instilled as a survival tactic from a very young …show more content…
Research confirms that both bully victims as well as offenders are emotionally harmed by the act of cyberbullying. In a fact sheet produced by the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, loneliness, humiliation, and insecurity were each reported as further manifestations of the initial emotional responses to the bullying process. This can potentially cause students to have a fear if going to school. This constant instability makes it difficult for bully victims to adjust socially and emotionally, focus on their studies, and develop in a healthy mental fashion. These responses can lead to more serious clinical implications, such as depression, which can continue to develop into even worse problems (Ericson, 2001, p.