Positive deviance is a behavioral change approach that focuses on finding and promoting innovative problem solving solutions within a community that is already being practiced by some members but not yet adopted by the majority.
History of Positive Deviance
The positive deviance method was first developed in the early 1990s by Dr. Jerry Sternin, who was working for the international relief organization, Save the Children. Dr. Sternin and his team were tasked with finding a way to reduce malnutrition in Vietnamese villages.
When Jerry Sternin set out to improve malnutrition rates in Vietnam, he didn’t rely on outside experts or imported solutions. Instead, he used a method called “Positive Deviance.” Sternin began by observing the families who were successfully avoiding malnutrition, despite living in the same poverty-stricken conditions as the other families in the area. He then worked with the community to identify and adopt the practices that these families were using. As a result of Sternin’s work, malnutrition rates in the area dropped significantly.
What is Positive Deviance – PD (The Definition)?
Positive deviance can be defined as “innovative behavior that is not yet widely adopted, but that has the potential to improve a community’s quality of life.”
It is a way of thinking and approaching problems that focuses on finding and promoting solutions that already exist within a community instead of looking externally for answers.
The idea is that by identifying and sharing these “positive deviant” behaviors, they can be adopted by the wider community and help to improve the overall quality of life.
How Does Positive Deviance Work (The Steps of Positive Deviance)?
The positive deviance approach consists of four main steps:
- Observation and Discovery: The first step is to observe and identify the positive deviant behavior. This can be done via surveys, interviews, focus groups, or further research methods.
- Analysis and Action Planning: Once the behavior has been identified, it must be analyzed in order to understand why it is successful. This step also involves developing a plan of action for how to promote the behavior within the community.
- Implementation and Monitoring: The next step is to implement the plan and monitor its progress. This includes making any necessary adjustments along the way.
- Evaluation and Sharing of Results: Finally, the results are evaluated and shared with the community. If the strategy is successful, it could be replicated in other communities.
Applications of Positive Deviance
Positive deviance can be applied in a variety of different settings, including public health, education, environmental sustainability, and organizational change.
Positive Deviance in Family
In the context of family life, PD can be used to identify healthy coping mechanisms, effective communication strategies, and other practices that help families thrive. Importantly, positive deviance is not about finding “perfect” families; rather, it is about identifying which families have figured out how to overcome challenges and build resilience in the face of adversity. By studying these families and sharing their stories, we can all learn how to better support our own families.
For example, in a family where yelling is the norm, one member may choose to speak calmly and respectfully instead. By doing so, they are positively deviating from the norm.
Positive Deviance in Sociology
Positive deviance is a sociological theory that suggests that certain individuals within a community are more likely to display positive behavior, despite being exposed to the same or similar risks and challenges as their peers. This theory has been utilized to explain a wide range of social phenomena, from crime and delinquency to educational attainment and political participation. While positive deviance is often seen as a negative phenomenon, it can also be used to promote positive social change.
For example, community leaders may use positive deviance to encourage residents to take part in community initiatives or vote in local elections.
By understanding and harnessing the strength of positive deviance, sociologists can help to create more cohesive and effective communities.
Positive Deviance in Healthcare
In the context of public health, positive deviance refers to any behavior that helps to improve health outcomes in a population.
For example, PD could refer to a community-based initiative that encourages people to get vaccinated, or it could refer to a program that helps people quit smoking.
Positive deviance is based on the premise that solutions to problems already exist within a community; it just takes someone to identify them and put them into practice. As such, positive deviance is an important tool for improving public health.
By identifying and promoting positive health behaviors, communities can make real progress in tackling some of their most pressing health challenges.
Positive Deviance in Education
This approach has been successfully used in a variety of fields, including education. In schools, positive deviance can be used to identify and spread effective teaching practices and student behaviors.
For example, if a school is struggling with absenteeism, positive deviance could be used to identify students who rarely miss school and study their behaviors in order to develop a plan for improving attendance amongst the wider student body.
Similarly, if a school is seeking to improve test scores, positive deviance could be used to identify teachers with students who outperform their peers and develop strategies for replicating their success. Positive deviance is an alternative approach to problem-solving that offers many potential benefits for schools and educators.
How to Use Positive Deviance in Your Community
If you’re interested in using positive deviance to improve social outcomes in your community, there are a few things you can do:
- Observe and identify the positive deviant behavior. This can be accomplished through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or additional research methods.
- Analyze the behavior to understand why it is successful. This step also involves developing a plan of action for how to promote the behavior within the community.
- Implement the plan and monitor its progress. This includes making any necessary adjustments along the way.
- Evaluate the results and share them with the community. If the method is successful, it could be replicated in other communities.
Positive deviance is a promising approach for improving social outcomes in communities around the world. By harnessing the power of deviant behavior, we can create a force for good that can help to solve some of the most crucial problems facing our society today.
Real-Life Examples of Positive Deviance
As we discussed, the positive deviance approach has been successfully used in a variety of different contexts, including public health, education, environmental sustainability, and organizational change.
Some notable real-life examples of Positive Deviance include:
- A major airline used positive deviance to improve its on-time arrival rate by 10%.
- A program in Bangladesh used positive deviance to reduce the incidence of diarrhea by 50%.
- A large retail company used the approach to reduce employee turnover by 25%.
- A project in India used positive deviance to improve school attendance rates by 20%.
- An initiative in Ghana used the approach to help farmers increase their crop yields by 30%.
Positive Deviance vs. Traditional Problem-Solving
The positive deviance approach differs from traditional problem-solving in a few key ways:
- It focuses on finding solutions that already exist rather than looking for new ones.
- It emphasizes community involvement and ownership of the problem.
- It is based on the belief that everyone has the potential to be a positive deviant.
- It is tailored to the exact needs of each community.
- It relies on trial and error rather than expert opinion.
Conclusion: Positive Deviance
The positive deviance approach has been demonstrated to be an effective way of addressing a variety of different problems. By focusing on finding and promoting solutions that already exist within a community, it can help to improve the overall quality of life.
One of the key principles of PD is that change doesn’t come from the outside – it comes from within the community itself. In order to effect change, it is necessary first to understand the existing social norms and then identify those who are deviating from them in a positive way.
This approach can be contrasted with the more traditional top-down approach, which typically involves outside experts reaching in and advising people on what they need to do differently.
The positive deviance approach is much more empowering, as it recognizes that the people who are closest to the problem are also the best equipped to solve it.
