Final answer:
Conformity involves adhering to group norms, which can be particularly noticeable in social settings like schools or sports teams. Deviant behaviors, which initially may not align with societal expectations, can eventually become accepted. Understanding the interplay between conformity, deviance, and social norms is crucial in grasping how individuals and groups interact within society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conformity is the extent to which an individual complies with group norms or expectations. This concept is especially relevant in social environments such as schools where norms influence a wide range of behaviors, from dressing to participating in specific activities. Individuals may conform by wearing particular styles of clothing, engaging in certain recreational activities, or following established codes of conduct within an athletic environment. However, what is considered normative behavior can change over time. For example, practices such as single parenthood, tattoos, and vegan lifestyles were once viewed as deviant but have since become more accepted in many societies.
Within the athletic context, this behavior often involves an unquestioned acceptance of what it means to be an athlete and the norms therein. Examples of conforming behaviors in sports may include following a specific dress code, like wearing a T-shirt and shorts to soccer practice. This adherence to group norms aligns with the desire for social acceptance, which can be observed in both adult and youth cultures.
However, conformity can also be challenged when individuals choose to stand out or deviate from the norm, either through innovative means or by embracing lifestyles once considered deviant. This deviance often involves behaviors and choices that may be against the conventional expectations of a society or specific group. Over time, these once-deviant behaviors can become mainstream as societal values shift.
When it comes to sports and athletics, behaviors such as showing up to practice with the appropriate attire and equipment are reflective of conforming to the expected standards—the social influence of the group dictates these norms. It is important to recognize how conformity and deviance both play significant roles in how social norms and group dynamics are developed and maintained within different contexts.