Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory

negate hypothesis is based on the idea that the main causes of crime and deviance argon the economic and social differences among members of a hunting lodge, prompting the wee-wee- nons to act extinct, if not to fleece the haves. fit in to this system, criminal law and the entire criminal justice dodging tend to be favorable toward the wealthy and the effectual elites, while the political policies ar aimed at controlling only the needy and poor members of society.Moreover, the surmisal assumes that the entire criminal justice structure is aimed at compelling all(a) members of society to accept the standards of good behavior and morality that be created by the bounteous and the powerful. in that location is a focus on separation amid the haves and the have-nots, so as to protect the haves from physical attacks by the have-nots, and also to protect them from being robbed. In the process, however, the rights of the poor and needy concourse could be ignored. The pith class, on the other hand, enjoys the legal rights of the elites by siding with them.These people cerebrate that they skill be able to rise in rank by backing up the status quo ( involvement, 2005). The simplistic troth scheme has been apologizeed promote thus Street crimes, even minor monetary ones atomic number 18 routinely penalize quite severely, while large scale financial and business crimes are treated much more leniently. Theft of a television might receive a longer sentence than stealing millions through iniquitous business practices. William Chambliss, in a classic essay The Saints and the Roughnecks, compared the outcomes for two groups of youthful misbehavers. The first, a lower class group ofboys, was hounded by the local police and labeled by teachers as delinquents and future criminals, while the upper-middle class boys were every bit deviate, but their actions were Deviant Behavior in the Light of action possibility 2 written off as youthful indiscretions and learning experiences (Conflict). Although there is truth to the contest theory, it is only partial. Of a certainty, there are countless people counted among the rich and the powerful who have postulated in deviate behaviors. What is more, they have not found the law to be liberal toward them. As an example, both of President George W.Bushs daughters have been in hold out with the law (Montgomery, 2001). The daughter of the Presidents brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, has also been arrested for deviant behavior (Jeb, 2002). The conflict theory does not exercise in their cases. Nor does it arrest in the case of Enron and Worldcom rich businesses that should have been untouched by the laws of the take d testify if the conflict theory were entirely square(a). Although there whitethorn be instances where the conflict theory correctly explains deviant behavior, it is obvious that this theory cannot be utilise to all places in the world at all dates.There are numerous n ations in the world where corruption is the law of the land, and wrong is the norm. In the development regions of the world, in particular, the have-nots may rob the haves or simply act out because they are disturbed by the below the beltness that is mete out to them. However, it is not correct to understand deviant behavior only in the luminosity of the conflict theory. If we are to consider that it is conflict theory alone that explains deviant behavior in human beings, we would not have examples of the Bush daughters and Enron to consider. There are many theories to explain deviant behavior.The cultural transmission or the differential associations theory, for example, may compete with the conflict theory in explaining deviance. According to the cultural transmission theory, all kinds of behaviors, including deviant behavior, are learned. Furthermore, the young and and then more impressionable Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 3 learners of deviance may have d eveloped secretive relationships with their deviant teachers. With increasing contacts with deviant teachers, the young learners of deviance engage in increasingly deviant behaviors (Sociological Theories).The cultural transmission theory does not rule out the possibility that the children of the rich and the powerful may engage in deviant behaviors because they may have had deviant teachers. The conflict theory rules out this possibility entirely with its assumption that the societal norms are effected by the rich and the powerful, so therefore they cannot possibly go against their own rules. As explained previously, this assumption of the conflict theory is not true, seeing that the rich and the powerful are also known to go against the societal norms, which they should have established for themselves and by themselves.The conflict theory is also not true one hundred percent in places where laws are created on the basis of unfairness and corruption. Even in such places, it is k nown that there are always people that try to work hard and honestly, despite the unfairness that is dealt out to them. In short, all people in deviant places may not engage in deviant behaviors, even if the rich and the powerful have corrupted the government with bribes, etc. Yet another theory that conflicts with the conflict theory is the social control theory that explains why people may not engage in deviant behaviors.According to this theory, individuals may find out the societal norms because of their connecting social bonds (Sociological Theories). In other words, they may abandon to engage in deviant behaviors for the following reasons (1) attachment a prise of the connectedness between individuals Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 4 (2) commitment a measure of the stake a person has in the union (3) involvement a measure of the time/energy a person is spending on activities that are stabilizing to the community(4) belief a measure of the persons sup port for the morals and beliefs of the community (Sociological Theories). If all poor and needy kinsfolk in an unfair society were to follow the societal norms because of their social contacts, the conflict theory would in one case again be rendered meaningless. It may be that some underprivileged folks with weak social bonds would engage in deviant behaviors in a corrupt society. In that case, however, the conflict theory would only apply to that secondary group of people. In actuality, such a group may be existent.Theoretically, however, it is possible for that group never to exist. Thus, the conflict theory may truly apply only in the cases of disgruntled, underprivileged folks who truly believe in righting the wrongs with wrongs. It would not apply in a corrupt society where underprivileged folks would like to work hard and honestly. And, neither would it apply in societies where the rich and the powerful are not exempt from the law. Therefore, the conflict theory is a naive theory, which, like most theories, does not explain reality in its entirety.ReferencesConflict. (2005, Nov. 22). Florida State University. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, fromhttp//www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/conflict.htm.Jeb Bushs Daughter aerated with Prescription Fraud. (2002, Jan. 29). CNN. Retrieved Sep. 20,2007, from http//archives.cnn.com/2002/US/01/29/jeb.bush.daughter.drugs/.Montgomery, A. (2001, Jun. 4). Jenna Bush may face detain on booze charge. Chicago Sun-Times.Sociological Theories to Explain Deviance. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, fromhttp//www.valdosta.edu/klowney/devtheories.htm.