The Conditions Under Deviant Behavior Problems Criminology Essay

The Conditions Under pervert Behavior Problems Criminology EssayThe conditions under which deviate behaviour exists have presented an fixed question for researchers. Within the literature the majority of definitions of divergence sh atomic fig 18 oneness commonality that kind norms and grades subjectively stigmatise appearances as degenerate. identical to the number of theories of difference there exist a number of motivations wherefore item-by-items choose to run in pervert style. Existing theories-general channel, anomie, labeling, control, and gain vigoring-examine these f make upors and attempt to clarify the hows and whys of unnatural look. The to the highest degree common f practiseors which facilitate exclusive aberrance take on face-to-face strain, social disorganization, a lack of self-abnegation, and the perception that the benefits for gentle in departure outweighing the potential costs. Because of these variations there is currently no uni versally-accepted surmise of deflexion. macrocosmAn urgent question in contemporary social sciences is how and why certain demeanors, attributes, or classes of individuals come to be defined as deviant.1Since social groups describe the rules, deviant behavior results from individuals who fail to adhere to said rules. When behaviors argon defined as deviant it is assumed that they pass on either promote or inhibit individual motivation to interlace in much(prenominal) acts and go out evoke certain social chemical reactions which serve to influence subsequent behavior by those indoors said society.2A number of theorists attempt to recognize a commonality to the different characters of deviant behavior. The underlying theme is that this type of behavior offends societys normative order and deviance becomes a theoretical frame of this consensus. There exist a number of theories which seek to define how individuals and their behavior are identified as deviant.Definitions of and Motivations for Deviant BehaviorDespite a wide variety of definitions of deviance there is consensus that deviance refers to behaviors or attributes manifested by specified kinds of people in specified circumstances that are judged to bollocks up the normative expectations of a specified group.3This consensus perspective serves to promote collective accord as to what core values, norms, and goals should be. Behavior that falls outside of the specified parameters are deemed deviant. The degree of deviance is directly correlated to the descryd serious of the retributive response it elicits.Many questions abound as to individual motivations to engage in deviant behavior. Fundamentally, if one anticipates that satisfaction lead ensue from engaging in the behavior because he will do so. Hirschi (1969) asserts that the motivation for deviance is always present and that research should examine the circumstances which permit individuals to act on these motivations.4In an other view, Merton (1938) argues that social strain augments motivation for deviance in order to achieve certain unattainable culturally-sanctioned goals.5Where the majority of individuals will embrace con castity as a response to strain others recourse to deviance. Similarly, Tittles (1995) control balance carcass assumes that individuals have a strong privation to exercise control over themselves and to escape having control exerted over them by others while Katz (1988) argues that the motivation to deviance occurs to protect ones self esteem, encourage a desired reputation, establish autonomy, or demonstrate competence, for example.6These theories all share the presumption that deviance is incite by the need to adapt to psychological distress which results from the ill luck to achieve desired goals done conventional means. Accordingly, when pushes, or psychological impulses which tie an individual to engage in deviant behavior, and pulls, or the attraction of deviant opportun ities, interact then motivation for deviance increases.7Deviance results from individuals motive to engage in deviant behavior being stronger than the motive non to amidst the cosmea of the opportunity to do so.Theoretical FoundationsThere are two patriarchal types of theories to explain deviance structural and processual. structural theories are labeled sociological theories while processual ones are termed social psychological theories due to the differences in goals and scope.8Structural theories emphasize the relationship of deviant behavior to particular structural conditions in spite of appearance society and attempt to explain why deviance is higher in certain areas, such as those with lower socioeconomic status.9On the other hand, processual theories seek to describe the processes by which people engage in deviant behavior by attempting to explain the conditions which lead to the commission of deviant acts.10With honor to scope, structural theories address the epidemio logy, or distribution in time and office of deviance and processual theories focus upon the etiology, or specific causes, of deviance.11Specific Theories of Deviance oecumenic Strain surmise (GST)GST addresses the interrelatedness of strain and its emotional response, individual heading mechanisms, and deviance.12As a possible action it focuses not upon strain itself but upon individual responses to strain and seeks to identify those characteristics which enable non-deviant responses amid strain. Sharp, Brewster Love (2005) argue that certain types of strain create certain actions which influence delinquent behaviors. Anger, for example is an emotional response which has a high likelihood of encouraging deviant behavior. Therefore, where there is a strain-particularly one perceived as unfair-low social control creates pressure which, in turn, causes deviant behavior.13Research indicates that gender is a strong predictor of strain-induced deviance with males more overt in their responses than females who tend to internalize strain.GST has been used considerably in the study of juvenile deviance. Repeated exposure to stressful bearing experiences has been found to both escalate and accelerate juvenile delinquency and depending upon when during ones life-course flight of steps the strain occurs different implications ensue. The literature suggests that involvement in delinquency begins to increase during early adolescence, peaking around age 16 and 17, and followed by a make up in such behavior.14Agnew (1997, 2006) submits that this life-course trajectory highlights that adolescence is a period of high transitions, that adolescents perceive their environment as negative more so than adults, and that there is an increase propensity for juveniles to react to adversity through deviant behavior.15The lack of serviceable coping mechanisms in juveniles makes it awkward to react to strain more effectively. anomy TheoryAccording to anomie theory-much like GST-d eviance results from social disorganization in that elements in society promote deviant behavior by making such behavior a feasible adjustment to society. Where the earliest form of this theory hypothesized that anomie results from a failure to achieve positively-valued goals Agnew (2001) expanded upon this theory by including that anomie can also result when positive stimuli are removed and when negative stimuli are applied.16One criticism of anomie theory is that it assumes universality in what should be defined as deviant and how most individuals should behave however, in reality, deviance is a relative concept so this universality is erroneous.17Labeling TheoryLabeling theory presents an interactionist perspective to the study of deviant behavior by stressing the importance of the processes through which society labels a particular act as deviant and the subsequent negative social sanctions which influence the individual to engage in further deviance.18Becker (1973) claims that deviance is a consequence of the occupation by others of rules and sanctions to an offender.19Therefore, while the act or the person may not be inherently deviant, existing social controls create deviance by defining acts that the majority believes to be so and, consequently, labeling individuals who engage in such acts as deviant. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy by amplifying the very phenomenon that it is intended to suppress.20Of particular importance is that subsequent events serve to reinforce the deviance because an individual internalizes the label attached to him by societys stigmatizing and creates secondary, or tertiary, deviance. The labeling itself serves to ensure that every society has a percentage of deviants which is critical to maintain the majority consensus.21 go over TheoryControl theory is similar to anomie and social disorganization theories to the degree that deviance results from the lack of social controls on individual restraint to engage in devia nt behavior.22Durkheim (1933) asked why people conform to social norms instead of why they engage in deviant behavior. Under this theory it is assumed that everyone would engage in deviant behavior if given the chance, that a small get of social controls will increase deviance, and that there exists a central value system which defines deviance in society.23There are four components of an individuals societal bond which serve to prevent deviance attachment to specific groups through affection, respect, and socialization openment to accepting conforming behavior involvement in non-delinquent behavior and a belief in the dominant value system of any particular group.24When social bonds are reestablished or strengthened then the deviant behavior ceases.Accordingly, individuals who engage in deviant behavior do so due to low possession. Under this theory low self-control is comprised of six personality traits anger, impulsivity, preference for simple tasks, risk-seeking, being more sensible than mental, and being self-centered.25Gottfredson Hirschis (1990) self-control theory asserts that inadequate child-rearing results in lowered self-control which facilitates a predisposition to engage in deviant behavior.26They also claim that individuals who engage in one type of deviant act will commit other deviant acts.Learning or Socialization TheoryThese theories suggest that deviance is a nameed behavior similar to how non-deviant individuals learn conforming behavior. By attempting to distinguish variations in behaviors theorists assume that differences in grade of deviance among various groups can be determined. One of the most widely-cited reading theories is Sutherlands (1947) differential association theory which postulates that deviant behavior results from normative conflicts in neighborhood structures, peer group relationships, and the organization of family in society.27The fundamental tenets of Sutherlands theory are that criminal behavior is learned, that learning is a result of personal interaction, that primary learning occurs in intimate group settings, that people learn that socially-normative attitudes are either brotherly or not, that deviant behavior results when conditions favorable to deviance exceed those unfavorable to violating the law, and that deviant behavior cannot be explained by general needs and values.28Accordingly, an individual learns various motives which are favorable to engaging in deviant behaviors as well as rationalizations and techniques for achieving them. While the behavior may be defined as deviant to the rest of society, within a particular individuals in-group the behavior may adhere to the groups norms. Akers (1985, 1989) expanded upon Sutherlands do by adding that deviance results when a person learns definitions that portray some involve as a desirable, even though deviant, action.29If an individual is rewarded for a deviant act by his in-group then he becomes socialized to continue the be havior under the expectation of similar positive experiences for subsequent acts.Other Theories intimidation theory asks whether the expectation of certain, severe, and swift punishment for engaging in deviant behavior would deter such behavior.30Rational choice theory addresses an individuals judge cost-benefit ratio of acting on deviant impulses. A greater evaluate or perceived benefit increases the likelihood that the individual will commit the act. Finally, conflict theory asserts that the development of formal social controls and laws are legitimized by the more powerful societal groups.31ConclusionThe wide variation of social psychological theories of deviant behavior seeks to answer why individuals become motivated to engage in deviant behavior, how behaviors and attitudes are defined as deviant, what factors facilitate deviant behavior, why some deviant behavior is escalated, and what consequences exist.32Despite the number and variety of theories of deviance the commonali ty is that this concept is a socially-defined construct apply to maintain a societys normative values. The disparities in definitions of deviance among societies make it difficult to establish an all-encompassing theory to explain the existence of deviant behavior in contemporary society.