ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses that the social reactions to a behavior are very important in defining an act as deviant, and it is also important to note that social reactions also create stigma. Traditionally, deviance is understood in two variations: normative and reactivist. An addition to the traditional way of conceptualizing deviance is the concept of positive deviance. The deviance typology is rate busting, which refers to overconformity that is negatively sanctioned. It is important to note that within the deviance typology, an individual may receive simultaneous reactions that could constitute the behavior as more than just rate busting. This concern with explaining the reaction to deviance rather than only the motivation of the actor was addressed by the labeling theory of the 1960s. Studying positive deviance could allow for many avenues to open up in terms of understanding certain behaviors of individuals. Though traditionally connected to negative deviance, labeling and stigma have a place in the discussion of positive deviance.
