what are the benefits of deviance
But it also has other functions which are not necessarily harmful and may actually be beneficial to society. 1  It is one way that social change occurs. 2  Deviance helps people adjust to change. 3  Deviance has a way of promoting social solidarity by distinguishing us form them..
The concept of norms is very important to the study of conformity and deviance. Norms are the socially acceptable behaviors in a group. It is in relation to them that people either conform or deviate. For instance, a group has the norm that Jan always talks first.