SECONDARY DEVIATION Meaning and
Definition
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Secondary deviation refers to a concept within the field of sociology, specifically in labeling theory and the study of deviance. It describes a particular type of behavior that occurs as a result of an individual's reaction to the societal label of deviance that has been attached to them. The term was coined by sociologist Edwin Lemert in the 1950s.
In his theory, Lemert distinguishes between primary and secondary deviation. While primary deviation refers to the initial act of deviance itself, secondary deviation pertains to the subsequent responses and actions of the individual after being labeled as deviant by society. It encompasses the ways in which an individual internalizes and identifies with the deviant label and subsequently engages in further acts of deviance as a form of adaptive or reactive behavior.
Secondary deviation can manifest in various ways, including increased criminal behavior, resentment towards societal norms, and further withdrawal from conventional societal structures. It often occurs due to the social stigma and exclusion experienced by individuals labeled as deviant, leading them to adopt further deviant behavior as a means of coping or as a way to join or find acceptance within alternative deviant subcultures.
Overall, secondary deviation is a sociological concept that highlights the reciprocal relationship between societal labeling of deviance and subsequent acts of deviant behavior by individuals, reinforcing and perpetuating the process of deviance and social control.
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The turning of the normal eye away from the object when the latter is fixed by the squinting eye.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SECONDARY DEVIATION
Etymology of SECONDARY DEVIATION
The word "secondary" comes from the Latin word "secundarius", which means "following" or "second in order". It is formed from the Latin prefix "secundus", meaning "second", and the suffix "-arius", indicating "pertaining to" or "connected with".
The word "deviation" originates from the Latin word "deviatio", which means "a wandering away" or "turning aside". It is derived from the Latin verb "deviare", which means "to turn aside" or "to wander from the path". It is formed from the prefix "de-", meaning "away", and the verb "viare", meaning "to travel" or "to go".
When combined, "secondary deviation" refers to a second or subsequent deviation from an original or initial course of action or behavior.
