transgression

Transgression is the act of violating a rule, boundary, or norm defined by a social group, a legal system, or a moral framework. The term derives from the Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi, meaning to step across.

In social science, transgression refers to behavior that breaks expected norms. It can be illicit or merely unconventional, and it may challenge power relations or signal social change. In ritual and anthropology, transgression can be purposeful, as in rites of passage or liminal moments, where crossing thresholds marks transformation; such acts are often regulated by ritual rules and can both reaffirm and destabilize social order.

In religion and ethics, transgression is often linked to sin or moral wrongdoing. Some traditions distinguish between transgression (a violation of divine law) and guilt, repentance, and atonement; others treat all violations as sins. The moral interpretation of a transgression can vary with context, intent, and cultural norms.

In law and criminology, a transgression is an action that breaches a statute or regulation. Not all transgressions are categorically immoral, and not all moral wrongs are illegal. Civil disobedience, for example, is a legal transgression undertaken to protest perceived injustice.

In literature and art, transgression is used to push boundaries and challenge norms, sometimes provoking controversy or reflection. Transgressive fiction, for instance, deliberately portrays taboo subjects to expose social assumptions.

The concept remains debated, with some viewing transgression as a healthy mechanism for testing norms, others as a threat to social order.