Normalization Of Deviance
Thu. 10 /10 8:45 AM 9:45 AM Chablis
Normalization of deviance, according to American sociologist Diane Vaughan, is the process in which deviance from correct or proper behavior or rule becomes culturally normalized. Vaughan defines the process where a clearly unsafe practice becomes considered normal if it does not immediately cause a catastrophe: “a period of incubation culminating in a final disaster, with early warning signs that were either misinterpreted, ignored or missed completely.” It is a gradual process through which unacceptable practice or standards become acceptable. As the deviant behavior is repeated without catastrophic results, it becomes the social norm for the organization, despite the fact that the behavior exceeds their own rules for elementary safety/efficiency. Normalization of deviance exists in almost every operation, at least to some degree, and this session will look at several examples of this, both within the aquatic industry, and on a more global scale. Be prepared to take an introspective look at your operation and how/ where your organization is willing to accept Deviation of Normalcy, and to share some of those examples with the group.
Operations/Safety
