Final answer:
Deviance exists on a continuum and can range from positive to negative based on societal norms and context. Positive deviance can facilitate social change, while primary deviance often does not impact one's social standing significantly. Deviance is a complex social phenomenon influenced by cultural and situational factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deviance exists as a violation of societal norms, ranging from simple nonconformity to serious breaches of societal rules. It is not fixed and often exists on a continuum, where certain behaviors can be considered more or less deviant depending on the context, culture, and time period. For example, walking to class backward might be seen as positively deviant, as this unusual behavior might not harm anyone but breaches social expectations. On the other hand, driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit is both negatively deviant and criminal due to its potential to cause harm.
Positive deviance are actions outside of the norm that may ultimately lead to social change or improvements within a society, such as the civil rights activists of the 1960s. At the same time, behaviors like speeding, which may be seen as a minor violation of norms (primary deviance), do not always fundamentally alter how an individual is perceived by society, nor do they necessarily have long-term effects on the individual's self-image or interactions with others.
The perception of what is and is not deviant can change rapidly and is often influenced by socio-cultural dynamics. Instances of deviance can shed light on injustices within a system and motivate societal change, thus existing not solely as a negative element but as a complex social phenomenon with the capacity to produce both negative and positive outcomes.