Final answer:
Marginal deviance lies between total conformity and total deviance and represents minor violations of societal norms that don't lead to severe sanctions or lasting impacts on an individual's identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the concept of deviance, it's important to recognize that it is relative and not absolute. The way deviance is defined can vary by society, subculture, and even over time. Deviant behavior is that which violates the established norms of a society, which can range from very minor, almost unnoticed behavior to acts that are highly conspicuous and frowned upon. However, not all deviant actions have the same consequences or level of social response.
An act that lies between total conformity and total deviance can be referred to as marginal deviance. This type of deviance represents behaviors that do not fully align with societal norms but also do not completely reject those norms. Marginal deviance is seen in acts that may raise eyebrows or cause a slight stir but do not result in serious social sanctions or long-lasting effects on an individual's reputation or self-identity.
An example of marginal deviance could be someone speaking out of turn in a formal gathering – it's not fully accepted, but it's also not severe enough to cause that person to be labeled as an outsider or to face serious consequences.