Positive and negative forms of deviance in relation to the performer.

The idea

Deviance in sport is behaviour that departs from expected norms. Positive deviance involves over-conformity to the norms of sport in a way that is often admired, such as a performer training far beyond what is required or playing through pain to help the team. Negative deviance involves under-conformity that breaks rules or values, such as doping, deliberate foul play or match-fixing. Both forms relate to the performer because they affect the individual's choices, reputation and the spirit of the game. Positive deviance can still carry risks, for example overtraining or ignoring injury. Negative deviance damages fair play and can lead to sanctions. When answering, link each example to the performer's behaviour and say whether it over-conforms or under-conforms to sporting norms.

What earns the marks

• Deviance: behaviour that differs from the accepted norms or values of sport.
• Positive deviance: over-conformity to sporting norms, often admired, such as extreme training or playing through pain for the team.
• Negative deviance: under-conformity that breaks rules or values, such as doping, deliberate foul play or match-fixing.
• Performer focus: the behaviour is carried out by the individual performer and affects their choices, reputation and fair play.
• Positive deviance can still be risky, for example overtraining or ignoring injury, so it is not automatically good.
• Negative deviance undermines fair play and can lead to sanctions such as bans or fines.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Thinking positive deviance means morally good behaviour.

  Put it right: It means over-conformity to sporting norms, which can still be risky.

• Confusing negative deviance with any mistake.

  Put it right: It is deliberate rule-breaking or behaviour against sporting values, not an accidental error.

• Assuming all deviance is negative.

  Put it right: Positive deviance is also a form of deviance because it goes beyond expected norms.

• Forgetting to link the example to the performer.

  Put it right: State how the behaviour affects the individual's choices or reputation.

Exam tips

• Use the words 'over-conformity' and 'under-conformity' to show you understand the direction of the deviance.
• Give one clear sporting example for each form and name the performer's action, not just the outcome.
• If an option describes an accident or a referee's decision, it is unlikely to be deviance by the performer.
• Check whether the question asks about the performer or the team, because the specification focuses on the performer.