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Week 8 was about Cyber deviance. Within the weekly activity that occurs for each lecture, we were asked to get into groups and each describe a subculture and or counter culture that in our opinion, participates in cyber deviance. Along with asking ourselves and answering questions such as what makes them deviant, why we chose it, and who would view them as deviant.

Before the activity I already had an idea of what my opinion on a subculture or counter culture that would have been deemed or viewed as deviant, but it was interesting to listen to my group member's ideas and their views. As they had some point of views I might not have thought of, which changed my perspective after the activity.

I chose this activity for the portfolio because of how many different perspectives and takes on how deviance and subcultures or counter cultures connect.

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During week 11 we learned about mental health and different theories that applied to it. When working on that weeks activity we were put into groups, and asked our thoughts about how we determine different aspects of cultures and society impacts mental illness is defined as well as how it alters the experience. More specifically we were asked to connect our points to a video previously watched.

As someone who also struggles with mental health I already had a brief understanding about the topic but mainly from my own view, however I forget to take into consideration how different cultures have different societal norms which can make ones experience a lot more difficult when dealing then mental illness.

I chose this activity for the portfolio because of how it connects to theories as well as having my own personal connection to the topic as well.

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While on Week 12, we took a look at counter deviance. As well as for the activity we took a look at different theories; symbolic interactionism, conflict theories, functional theories etc. While looking at these theories we were asked to pick one theory and asked to answer a set of questions associated for each. For example one question asked was, how this theory explains counter cultures.

This activity was a little more challenging as there was multiple options I couldn't quite determine which one I wanted to answer or had an answer for. But after talking with group members we were able to find a question of interest and determine an answer for each question and since they were open ended question it challenged us to think more. Which after the activity had me asking myself more challenging questions.

I chose this activity not just for the theories connected the counter deviance but also because I enjoyed how challenging it was for me.

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This activity for week 8, when learning about Cyber deviance would you'll realize it connects to conflict theory as well as status frustration theory.

As we know Status frustration mainly talks about youth struggling to reach a certain status and through that feelings of frustration emerge. Now this activity correlates through jealousy of popularity between certain subcultures or counter cultures. which through that could cause deviance to occur, whether it be bashing online through commercials or just on regular social media posts...theres always going to be a group wanting to reach that certain status.

When discussing conflict theory it also comes into play with subcultures and countercultures, since typically subcultures are more dominant. It could provoke a rebellion in counter culture and create a clash between values, social identity or even different levels of radicalism. But ultimately this clash would be based on who's right and wrong which could lead to deviance being an option to prove a point.

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When discussing mental illness there are many psychological theories you can connect to in terms of why it could occur, but when adding deviance to the equation the answer could change.

I would determine mental illness would connect best with labelling theory due to the social reaction to certain behaviour and in regards to individuals financial or living situation. As talked about in class theres many different cultures that treat mental illness with a type of attitude where it could be a weakness. Or even ecological factors which could also play a role as well.

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Countercultures are typically more rebellious in terms of how they react to social situations, since they defy traditions and norms, it mainly due to their disagreement with how society is structure or ultimately how things are done.

Your able to connect this with functionalism, as when taking a look at the specific forms of counter cultures being, anti-vaxxers, cults as well as hate groups they all have an issue with how things are ran. Its believed through robert Mertons anomie strain theory that society(s) will push for deviance when forced to conform to societal traditions and norms.

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When looking at cyber bullying im able to make a couple connections, for example the case of Amanda Todd. She was a teen from Canada who experienced cyber bullying and unfortunately passed away from suicide due to it.

As well as experiencing this is my own middle school, someone had created an account supposedly representing the school and their secrets, but the objective of the account was to expose the individuals and their secrets. Causing rumours to spread about different people and caused certain people to get bullied. Those individuals who experienced bullying from this account matched the description of risk factors for victimization being that most of them were girls, they had low self esteem as well as social anxiety.

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After the COVID-19 pandemic and the world shut down and it felt like time paused, mental health became a topic of conversation and was extremely important. As the government talked about higher rates of depression and anxiety that occurred within many countries across the globe, ultimately the effects of the pandemic changed how we function in everyday lives.

In school they offered asynchronous learning for those who had anxiety to attend school and would do so through zoom meetings. As well as making masks mandatory, in and out the house. Also making group gatherings over 5 restricted at a point.

To this day the effects of the pandemic have changed everyones lives, emotionally and mentally, not just in Canada but across the globe.

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A connection would be the doomsday starvation cult which occurred in Kenya, a cult leader who was also a pastor went but the name of Paul Mackenzie had convinced the church that the end of the world was coming and the only way for them to meet jesus was through pulling their kids out of school and discarding ids and any type of help from authorites or hospitals, and to an even more extreme way such as starving their kids.

Through studies on cults it shows that through other cases such as the charles manson its the demand for power and control which drives them.

In this case the church/cult following mackenzie would have been the counter culture and the subculture would have been society or even religous groups. Which he felt he had to pave his own way which to him was the right way.

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I would honestly like to learn more about specific cultures with specific clashes and why it occurs as well as maybe if theres a history between the two almost like an ongoing rivalry.

As for how to apply it, it would just make me more cautious in terms of how different subcultures or counter cultures might feel about certain aspects of behaviour or words being used, and taking that knowledge to make myself more aware.

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Moving forward I would apply this as you never know what people are going through, whether it be at home or even in their mind. Its important to recognize that different cultures take mental health as a form of weakness and that can affect ones overall well being.

As for something id want to learn would probably be going depper into different types of mental illnesses which can cause deviance to occur such as a schizophrenia case and how that could link to deviance as opposed to depression.

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When applying this to my personal life as someone who used to go to church as well as being in a religious family, ill apply it to see within sermons if there could be indications of someone who is going against societal norms through preaching.

As well as even just taking the time to look through society when I come to interact with groups to determine if they could be apart of a counter culture as opposed to a subculture.

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I was able to take away and apply many theories in and out the course whether it be through assignments or even just in my everyday lives with peers or groups in society. more specifically conflict theory and status frustration theory. Especially in Toronto the crime rates are higher and especially when connecting it to youth.

I was able to gain different perspectives from group learning and through these weekly activties as well as even just a think pair share.

Deviance to me even before and after the course would mean something thats not deemed correct by society whether it be a crime or not it is still viewed as socially or culturally wrong. It doesn't follow the norm, such as smoking marijuana. Even though it is legal yes its still viewed as deviant for the social reaction to that behaviour for years it ended up having that label as deviant.