Primary Deviance

Primary deviance refers to minor or initial acts of rule-breaking that do not define a person's overall identity. These actions are often considered temporary or isolated and may not lead to permanent labels or consequences. For example, someone might occasionally break a minor rule without seeing themselves as a deviant. Often, society's reaction to these acts can influence whether the person continues down a deviant path. In essence, primary deviance is the initial step in deviant behavior, which may or may not escalate depending on social feedback and individual circumstances.