Deviant Behavior: Definition, Relationship with Crime, and Sociology

This article defines deviant behavior as actions that oppose social and cultural norms. It discusses the relationship between deviance and crime, and the three sociological perspectives on deviance. The article also explores the different types of deviance and their examples.

Running head: LAW
DEVIANT BEHAVIOR
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Definition:
Deviant behavior denotes an action that is unacceptable in the social and cultural norms.
It is an antonym of social conformity. The action of the individual should be predictable in
nature. Causing noise in the public place, homicide, suicide, rape, robbery and theft can be
perfect example for deviant behavior. There are two kinds of deviant behavior such as formal
deviance and informal deviance. The behavior that violating the principle of existing law is
known as formal deviance. According to Clinard (2015), the behavior that opposes the social
norms that is not in codified condition is known as the informal deviance (1). Creating chaos in
the public place is known as informal deviance. Robert K. Merton has developed certain social
strain typologies where he has mentioned about five types of deviances such as conformity,
innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion. Apart from this, there can be certain concealed
deviance. When a person wears some women dress, it can go against the social policies and
therefore, could be taken as an example of concealed deviance. Certain anti-social behaviors
have been known as social deviance as defined in the Anti-social behavior Act 2003.
Relationship with crime:
Crime is an act that avoids that social norms and policy and that does not follow the
principle of law. Therefore, any illegal acts can be known as crime such as theft, murder,
robbery, rape and so on. In this perspective, crime is similar to that of deviance and in certain
societies they are treated equally. The reason behind the same is both the terms are opposing the
social norms and policies. Further, the examples of deviance and crime are quite similar.
However, there are certain differences can be observed between the two terms. Any ccrime is
illegal and there is no positive side in crime or criminal acts. However, there are certain

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deviances that are good and not a crime like theft or usage of drugs. For an instance, when a rock
star performed on the stage, his voice can be identified as chaotic and oppose the public norms.
However, people do like their performance and this is the positive side. The cross-cultural
analysis proved the fact that the effect of deviance depends on the culture of a society. Marry an
underage girl can be legal to certain societies; on the other hand, it is illegal to certain societies.
Deviance and sociology:
Considering the definition of deviance, it can be stated anything that opposes the social
norms is deviance in nature. The sociological character of deviance can be of three types such as
structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism and conflict theory. The social integration
among the individuals is described as structural functionalism. According to McCaghy et al.
2016, it is based on different values of the society (2). The social process and pragmatism can be
known as symbolic interactionism. This type of deviance is known as social strain typology to
certain extent. It depends on the individual’s belief regarding the cultural goals and process of
achieving the goal. For an instance, if a person peddling drugs and gain money from that, it can
be stated that he has accepted those cultural goals that are opposing the social norms. The third
socio-deviance theory is conflict theory that derives its origin from certain inequalities. Goode
(2017) opines that the inequalities can be from social, political or any other groups linked with
the society (3). The Wall Street movement can be known as conflict theory. The main purpose of
the theory has been emerged from the great inequalities in the societies. Apart from these three
sociological perspectives, there are certain other divisions such as labeling theory and biological
theory. According to the labeling theory, a person becomes deviant when certain deviant label
imposed on them. In the words of Cockerham (2016), the recasting of Columbine High School
massacre can be defined as labeling deviance (5). Biological theory of deviance believes on the

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biological makeup. Jensen opines that the social aspects are quite clear and common regarding
the deviance theory and it can identify all the factors systematically (4).
Summary:
There are certain norms in the society that are opposing the social or cultural norms.
Provision of incest taboo is broadly engraved in the society that opposes both the social and
cultural policies. Consensus crimes are also regarded as deviance. However, crime is different
from deviance, as in this case, the act should not oppose the social norms only; violation
regarding the legal rules is also required. Therefore, deviance could be defined from the social
point of view and could be regarded as intervention of moral entrepreneurs.

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Reference:
1. Clinard MB, Meier RF. Sociology of deviant behavior. Nelson Education; 2015.
2. McCaghy CH, Capron TA, Jamieson JD, Carey SH. Deviant behavior: Crime, conflict,
and interest groups. Routledge; 2016 Jan 8.
3. Goode E. Deviant behavior. Routledge; 2016 Jun 10.
4. Jensen GF, Akers RL. The empirical status of social learning theory of crime and
deviance: The past, present, and future. InTaking Stock 2017 Jul 5 (pp. 45-84).
Routledge.
5. Cockerham WC. Mental Disorder as Deviant Social Behavior. InSociology of Mental
Disorder 2016 Oct 4 (pp. 127-151). Routledge.
6. Cullen D. Columbine. Hachette UK; 2009 Apr 6.