Abstract
Positive deviance is when a person or group of people’s uncommon behaviors, ideas, or strategies allows them to find solutions to problems within a community. Though positive deviance may not be viewed as a good solution originally it usually helps out many people in the long run. Examples of people who are positive deviants are the Sternin family, members of the V.A. Pittsburgh hospital, and even Rosa Parks.
Homework #5
When most people think of deviance they think of it in a negative connotation. What they don’t know is that there is also positive deviance. Positive deviance is as simple as a person or group in a community whose uncommon ideas, behaviors, or strategies enable them to find solutions to issues that others may not find. Among the many people who contribute to positive deviance, a few are the Sternins in Vietnam, the members of the V.A. Pittsburgh hospital and Rosa Parks.
The Sternins in Vietnam
In 1990 the members of the Sternin family moved to Hanoi when they arrived in Vietnam. In the Philippines the father, Jerry, ran the Save the Children program. About two-thirds of the children in Hanoi were malnourished. The government asked Save the Children to find a lasting solution to the issue. The Sternins went into the villages and asked for volunteers to weigh all children under 3, and to characterize each family’s level of income. While most families with well-nourished children were wealthier, some of the “very, very poor” had well-nourished children. The Sternins went to those families to see what they were doing differently. “The local custom held that an adult diet was harmful for young children. But the positive deviant parents were collecting tiny crabs or shrimps from rice paddies and giving them to the children along with the greens from sweet potatoes. (Rosenberg)” They were also feeding children who had diarrhea and fed their children throughout the day which was also against customs. The Sternins educated parents of malnourished children by having a meeting with the villagers and deciding that families of malnourished children would gather at a neighbor’s house daily for two weeks. Each family would collect shrimps, crabs, or greens to bring to the gathering and with the help of trained volunteers, the families cooked meals using what they gathered. Once families of malnourished children held onto this practice, their children became well-nourished. “Vietnam eventually replicated the program in 250 communities. (Rosenberg)” Though the behavior is still viewed as deviant, it is becoming more accepted in order to keep the children well-nourished.
V.A. Pittsburgh Hospital
Jon Lloyd, a prominent surgeon at the V.A. Pittsburgh Healthcare, invited Jerry Sternin to come speak. Sternin agreed, under the circumstances that Lloyd make sure everyone in the hospital who came in contact with the patients in any way be present. At their first meeting it was noted that everyone felt nurses and the hospital’s infection control officers were responsible for preventing infection. Eventually they realized that people who were never asked for their opinion, such as the housekeepers, were some of the most knowledgeable on infection prevention. One of the hospital pastor told his colleagues that he kept his Bible covered with paper hats that he changed with each new patient to avoid the spread of germs. Though this wasn't ordinary behavior, other pastors began to do the same. This along with other positive deviant acts caused the infection rate to fall by more than half. The V.A. adopted these changes in nearly all of its hospitals and even offered training.
Rosa Parks
One of the most memorable moments of positive deviance is Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. In that time and age, because of Rosa Parks’ skin color, she was expected to sit in the back of the bus but chose the front instead. Her deviant behavior was a giant step for the Civil Rights Movement. Though her action was did not start the Civil Rights Movement, it still moved it forward. Had it not been for her positive deviance, the African American race may very well still be confined to the back of the bus.
Conclusion
Positive deviance may not always work, but it can be very helpful if it’s solutions are continuously used in communities. Whether it be Vietnam, The V.A. Pittsburg hospitals, or even Rosa Parks.
References
Rosenberg, T. (2013). When deviants do good. The New York Times. DOI: ROSENBERG, T. n.d., n. pag. .
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