Crime and Deviant (Essay Sample)

Crime and Deviant
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Crime and Deviant
Introduction
This research project delves into the subject of crime and deviance in society. Deviance is an extensive term that sociologists use in referring to the behavior that varies somehow from a societal norm. In this respect, the concept of deviance implies some kind of rule-breaking behavior (Quinney, 2009). As such, the concept of deviance is taken to refer to every form of rule-breaking for instance arson, theft, or murder – the breaking of formal societal rules –, as well as such things as being disrespectful to a teacher or parent, failing to present homework at school, wearing inapt clothes for a particular social situation; essentially the breaking of moderately informal societal rules. Criminal behavior or simply crime is a type of deviance – the deviance which is defined as going against legal rules (Vazsonyi et al., 2010).
The main sections and points of this Research Project include (1) purpose of the study; (2) review of literature; (3) design approach; (4) procedures for data collection; (5) discussion; and (6) conclusion and recommendations.
Section A: Purpose of the study
This first section of the research project will state the aims and research questions of the study. The specific aims for this research project are as follows:
To investigate the nature of criminal behavior and deviance behavior
To examine the explanations for crime and deviance in society including the relevant theories of crime and deviance
To examine how parents and teachers influence deviance behavior of adolescents
To explore the prevalence of crime and deviance in society and the police response to reduce it
The research questions are:
What is the nature of crime and deviance?
What is the prevalence of criminal behavior and deviant behavior within the society?
What is the role of police, parents and teachers in reducing criminal behavior and deviant behavior in society?
Section B: Review of Literature
The nature of crime and deviance and relationship between crime and deviance
In this sub-topic, the nature of criminal behavior and deviant behavior would be explored in an in-depth manner. The relationship between the crime and deviance would be examined. Cheng (2012) stated that individuals who show deviant behavior often dress and act in a manner that differ from the values as well as norms of the broader society. Nearly all instances of deviance are legal. Nonetheless, some cases of deviance could lead to criminal activity. It is worth mentioning that a grouping of persons who show deviant behavior actually share their own values as well as norms which form a distinctive subculture. While deviancy comprises behaviors which vary from the values and norms of the broader society, crime comprises behaviors that actually break the law such as robbery and murder (Carlson, 2010).
Explanations for crime and deviance in society
Several approaches and theories to deviance and crime have been described. The social strain typology theory is based upon 2 criteria: (i) the belief of an individual in how to accomplish his/her goals, and (ii) an individual’s motivations or compliance with cultural goals. Robert Merton developed this theory, and he stated that there are 5 sorts of deviance basing on these criteria. These are rebellion, ritualism, conformity, retreatism, and innovation (Carlson, 2010). This theory is interesting given that it argues that individuals could become deviant in order to pursue generally accepted social norms, values, and goals. A case in point is that people in America who are involved in selling illicit drugs have actually rebuffed the means of making money that are culturally acceptable, but still share the generally accepted cultural value of making money. Deviant behavior can therefore be the result of accepting one norm but breaking another norm so as to pursue the first norm (Quinney, 2009).
As per the labeling theory, individuals become deviant because others force that identity on them and they then adopt that identity. According to conflict theory, behaviors that are deviant stem from material, political, as well as social inequalities within a social group (Vazsonyi et al., 2010). The structural functionalism theory suggests that behaviors that are deviant play a constructive, active role by eventually helping to cohere dissimilar populations in a society. Deviant behavior helps in differentiating between unacceptable and acceptable behavior in the society; it demarcates boundaries and draws lines. This is a significant function which serves to affirm the cultural norms and values of a society for the members of that society. Other than elucidating the moral boundaries of society, deviance could also foster social unity simply by creating an us-versus-them mindset with regard to people who are deviant (Vazsonyi et al., 2010).
How teachers and parents influence deviance behavior of adolescents
Dornsbusch et al. (2009) pointed out that the attachments of adolescents to school and family tends to decrease the overall intensity, prevalence, as well as frequency of deviant behavior in spite of ethnic group, gender, and community context. Cheng (2012) observed that teacher-students relationships and parent-child relationships influence deviant behavior in a negative way. The findings of his study found that the relationship between children and their parent and the relationship between teachers and their students actually has a negative influence on deviant behavior of teenagers (Cheng, 2012).
Section C: Design Approach
This will be a qualitative research study. This methodology is used since it is the most appropriate research design that can be used to study human behavior and human habits, in this case criminal behavior and deviant behavior.
Section D: Procedures for Data Collection and Data Analysis
This being a qualitative study, data collection will involve using archival data, websites, and electronic databases such as CINAHL and Proquest for secondary collection of data, and the use of interviews for primary data collection. Interpretation of data will be based upon a combination of the data gathered and the perspective of the research...