deviance disavowal

deviance disavowal

‘the refusal of those who are viewed as deviant to concur in the verdict’ (F. Davis, 1964). The concept is intended to help understanding of ways in which, for example, ‘socially deviant’ persons, physically handicapped people, or criminals, may attempt to structure their interaction with ‘normal’, ablebodied, ‘unblemished’ people so as to minimize the effect of their deviancy on these relationships. See also STIGMA.