Deviant Behavior and Theoretical Approach

Deviant Behavior and Theoretical Approach In sociology, deviant behavior is a type of behavior or action that violates the social norms or formally-enacted rules of the society (Gibbs, 2017). Deviance can either be formal or informal. Formal deviance may include criminal actions such as robbery, assaults, murder, rapes, and thefts. On the other hand, informal deviance includes rejection of the folkways and mores, belching loudly, public nose-picking of others, and standing unnecessarily close to someone. In this regard, the theoretical approach that best explains deviant behavior is conflict theory. This theory considers both social and economic elements as the major causes of deviance (Cole, 2017). Unlike functionalists, conflict theorists consider such factors as proof of inequality within the system. Also, they challenge social disorganization and control models as they argue that other theories ignore the essential tenets such as racial and socioeconomic issues as well as oversimplify the social trends. This approach tries to look for answers to the relationships of gender and race with wealth and crime. This approach also suggests that economic capitalism leads to crime and deviance (Cole, 2017). It means that when an individual is raised without resources to have a better life may develop deviant behaviors like prostitution, robbery, thefts or drugs, etc. One of the strengths of this theory is the implication of power relationships in determining, identifying, and handling deviance. It provides an influential view of how an injustice society nurtures crime and injustices between the privileged and underprivileged groups in society. However, the theory has some weaknesses too. For instance, it is pointed out that the law protects everyone, including the wealthy. Additionally, examples of deviant behavior that led to positive outcomes are the actions of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The two remain figures of deviance in a bid to fight against racial oppression. While growing up, I was never faced with a high-risk situation as I attended Christian schools, and discipline was key. However, as I got older, I started rebelling about most of the things I used to do as a child. Due to peer-group influence, I started doing drugs, although I did not receive any sanction for trying drugs.