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Deviance vs Dysfunction - What's the difference?

deviance | dysfunction |

As nouns the difference between deviance and dysfunction

is that deviance is actions or behaviors that violate formal and informal cultural norms such as laws and customs while dysfunction is a failure to function in an expected or complete manner. Usually refers to a disorder in a bodily organ (e.g. erectile dysfunction), a mental disorder, or the improper behavior of a social group.

deviance

English

(wikipedia deviance)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (sociology) Actions or behaviors that violate formal and informal cultural norms such as laws and customs
  • A person or thing that differs from the expected.

    • Related terms

    * deviant * deviation

    dysfunction

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A failure to function in an expected or complete manner. Usually refers to a disorder in a bodily organ (e.g. erectile dysfunction), a mental disorder, or the improper behavior of a social group.

    • Antonyms

    * function

    Derived terms

    * dysfunctional * dysfunctionally