Anomaly Theory

Anomaly is defined as phenomena that fall in between cultural categories and create cultural tension and dissonance. It is often used in conjunction with liminality theory to explain the marginality of disabled people. (Liminality theory is a quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of rituals, when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but have not yet begun the transition to the status they will hold when the ritual completes.)

• Anomaly is used as a feature in the Socio-Cultural Model of Disability-Impairment.
• Anomaly isn’t always negative but can be potentially negative. (Examples of non-negative anomaly: Child prodigies, red hair, height).

Normal Project Examples

Mary Douglas (1921 — 2007)

1. Oxford Bibliographies Online. Search: Mary Douglas. www.oxfordbibliographies.com