Utilizing a Positive Deviance Approach to Reduce Girls’ Trafficking in Indonesia

This article analyzes the communicative practices that undergird the Positive Deviance approach to social change and its contributions to the curbing of girls’ trafficking in rural Indonesia. Positive Deviance hinges on the premise that in every community there are individuals whose uncommon practices enable them to find better solutions to problems than their neighbours with access to the same resources. Our archival and field research in Indonesia indicates that Positive Deviance is time and skills intensive, yet it is also rich in communication and relational practices. It facilitates a unique vantage point to build human capital and sustain positive impacts.