In 1993, New York's Democratic senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former social scientist, made an incisive observation: Humans have a limited ability to cope with people behaving in ways that depart from shared standards. When unwritten rules are violated over and over, Moynihan observed, societies have a tendency to 'define deviancy down' - to shift the standard. What was once seen as abnormal becomes normal.
In 1993, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan noted that people struggle to deal with behavior that strays from commonly accepted norms. His insight revealed that when societal standards are continually violated, there is a tendency for communities to adjust their perceptions of deviance, ultimately normalizing what was once considered abnormal. This phenomenon raises questions about the limits of tolerance within a society and can lead to a gradual erosion of established norms.
The concept of "defining deviancy down" is significant as it highlights how societal values can shift over time. As behaviors that were previously unacceptable become commonplace, the overall moral framework of a society may weaken. Steven Levitsky's book, "How Democracies Die," delves into this theme, exploring how such shifts can threaten democratic principles and institutions, reshaping the landscape of societal interactions and governance.
