BACK in my university days, one of my roommates who unknowingly tested my patience, and perhaps my sanity every single day. She had a habit of chewing so loudly while eating that I often wondered if she was trying to communicate with her ancestors through her food. Instead of closing her mouth while chewing, she made it a full auditory experience.
When she yawned, she never covered her mouth, treating us all to an unsolicited, wide-open display of her inner anatomy. The experience was even worse when she had just woken up, as her morning yawns came with an exaggerated stretch and an extra dose of intensity.
As if that wasn’t enough, her approach to personal hygiene was equally distressing, she rarely used deodorant, and on hot days, our room became a battleground between fresh air and the overwhelming force of her body odor.
Years later, I found myself trapped in an elevator with another specimen of informal social deviance. I was on my way to the fourth floor at work when a young man stepped in, phone in hand, blasting a social media video at full volume.
As if that wasn’t enough, he started laughing loudly, completely oblivious to the discomfort of everyone else in the confined space. It was as if he was testing the acoustics of the elevator or did he genuinely believe we all wanted to hear whatever comedy skit he was enjoying? Then came the public vehicle experience.
After a long day, all I wanted was a quiet ride home, but fate had other plans. A fellow passenger was watching a Nollywood movie on his phone with full volume, no earphones. Every dramatic slap, every exaggerated scream filled the vehicle.
A few passengers exchanged glances, but no one said a word. It was as if we had all silently accepted our fate, trapped in an unwanted communal movie screening. Are these just bad habits, or do they qualify as informal social deviance? At first glance, these behaviors may seem like nothing more than poor manners or inconsiderate habits.
However, on closer examination, they fall into a category known as informal social deviance, violations of social norms that, while not legally punishable, disrupt societal expectations.
Society has both written rules (laws) and unwritten rules, things we are simply expected to know. Cover your mouth when yawning. Use earphones in public.
Be mindful of your mouth/body odor. When someone ignores these expectations, they may not go to jail, but they will face social consequences such as ‘bombastic’ side-eyes, whispers, avoidance, or even outright confrontation. But why do we react so strongly to such behaviors? The answer lies in social order. People feel more comfortable when there is predictability in social interactions.
When someone disrupts this order, whether by blasting music in a bus or ignoring basic hygiene, it creates discomfort and even stress. Informal social deviance isn’t just about manners; it affects mental well-being for both the person exhibiting the behavior and those around them.
On the other hand, those constantly exposed to violations of social norms like the guy in the elevator may experience stress and frustration, which can build up over time. Imagine dealing with loud chewing, strong body odor, and unsolicited noise daily, it takes a toll on emotional health.
I remember a day in a bus when the person sitting next to me casually lifted his arm, positioning his armpit right under my nose.
Without thinking, I immediately said, ‘please put down your arm!’ The speed of my reaction must have startled him because he looked at me with pure confusion, as if he had done nothing wrong.
Many people choose tolerance over confrontation, especially in cultures like Nigeria, where correcting someone publicly can be seen as rude or disrespectful. However, bottling up irritation can lead to mental exhaustion. Not all informal deviance is negative.
Sometimes, breaking social norms leads to positive change. Talking openly about mental health was once considered deviant in Nigeria, yet today, we are seeing growing awareness and acceptance.
Disrespecting personal space is also a common form of informal social deviance. Standing too close to someone in a queue or public place can make them uncomfortable, yet many people disregard this unspoken boundary.
Loudly discussing personal issues, relationship problems, work conflicts, or even medical conditions in public settings like restaurants or public transport is another breach of social etiquette.
Some conversations are best kept private, but not everyone understands this. Queue-jumping is another irritating habit. Ignoring queues at ATMs, bus stops, or public restrooms and forcing their way to the front shows a lack of respect for others’ time. Some take it a step further by holding a spot for multiple people who arrive later, frustrating those behind them.
Playing music loudly in public without using earphones disrupts shared spaces.
Similarly, some people leave trash behind in cinemas, parks, or public transport instead of disposing of it properly. Worse still, others drop refuse from their car onto the road, treating the streets like personal trash bins. These behaviors don’t break the law, but they break social expectations, making others uncomfortable or frustrated.
Some might seem like minor annoyances, but over time, they can create a society where people feel disrespected, stressed, or disconnected.
Next week we will look into why people engage in informal social deviance, the role of social media, cultural differences, workplace etiquette, and possible solutions.
Till then, make the world a safe place for all.
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