Deviant Behavior Theories

Divergent Responses to Deviant Behavior The objective of this study is to examine two theories of deviant behavior that represent today's changing trends. This work will additionally examine three theories that may be considered outdated including: (1) Sheldon's Theory of Body Types; (2) Lombroso's Theory; and (3) Y Chromosome Theory, and will explain why they have been discredited. Positivist Perspective The positivist perspective views deviance as "absolutely or intrinsically real, in that is possesses some qualities that distinguish it from conventionality." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p.

4) Deviant individuals are views as having specific characteristics that make them different from conventional individuals. It was held by criminologists around the turn of the last century that criminals were in possession of specific biological traits that were not present in individuals that were law-abiding. Included in these biological traits were "defective genes, bumps on the head, a longer lower jaw, a scanty beard, and a tough body build." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p.

4) These are all inherited traits therefore, the belief was held that criminals were born rather than made and that they were "feebleminded, psychotic, neurotic, psychopathic, or otherwise mentally disturbed." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 4-5) However, it is reported that positive sociologists in the present day "have largely abandoned the use of biological and psychological traits to differentiate criminals from noncriminals." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 5) Rather, the role of social factors in the determination of the individual's criminal status is now recognized.

The positivist sociologist holds that deviant behavior is "an observable object in that a deviant person is like an object, a real something that can be studied objectively." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 5) It is the assumption of positivist sociologists that "they can be as objective in studying deviance as natural scientists can be in studying physical phenomena." (Pearson Higher Education,, nd, p. 5) Therefore, from this view the individual is treated as if they were an object just as those that natural scientist study.

The positivist view is that deviance is "determined or caused by forces beyond the individual's control." (Pearson Higher Education,, nd, p. 5) It is however, the assumption of positivist sociologists in the present that human beings are in possession of free will and that this assumption "does not undermine the scientific principle of determinism…" in that "No matter how much a person exercises free will by making choices and decisions, the choices and decisions do not just happen but are determined by some causes." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 5) II.

Constructivist Perspective The constructivist perceptive challenges the positivist perspective and holds that the "relativist view that deviant behavior by itself does not have any intrinsic characteristics unless it is thought to have these characteristics." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 5) It is held by the constructivist that the characteristics that are inherently deviant do not arise from the behavior itself but arise instead from the minds of some people. In other words "an act appears deviant only because some people think it so." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p.

5) It is reported that in the study of law enforcement agents, that constructivists have "found a huge lack of consensus on whether a person should be treated as a criminal. The police often disagree among themselves as to whether a suspect should be arrested, and judges often disagree among themselves s to whether those arrested should be convicted or acquitted." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p.

8) In fact, the varying of laws from one state to another is such that while in one state a specific behavior is deemed as deviant in another state the same behavior may not be considered as criminal behavior. It is reported that constructivists "strongly emphasize this realistic view, according to which deviance, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder." (Pearson Higher Education, nd, p. 8) III.

Sheldon's Theory of Body Types Sheldon's Theory of body types is based on three personalities and their physical make-up including: (1) Endomorph -- a round body type indicating the person is sociable, loves food, even-tempered and has a need for affection; (2) Ectomoroph -- this person is characterized by narrow shoulders and hips, a thin face with a high forehead and very little body fat and a personality characterized by being self-conscious, introverted and thoughtful; (3) Mesomorph -- this individual has a large head and broad shoulders and a narrow waist with a body that is muscular and is characterized by being courageous, adventuresome, and competitive.

Psychology does not consider these categorizations to be sound in nature in the present. (Changing Minds, nd, paraphrased) IV. Lombroso's Theory Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909) was a researcher that built upon the theory posited by Gall. Lombroso is reported to have conducted hundreds of post mortem examinations on crm8inals noting that these criminals shared physical characteristics and then compiled a list of these characteristics including such as "ceding hairline, forehead wrinkles, bumpy face, broad noses, fleshy lips, sloping shoulders, long arms and pointy fingers." (Gado, nd, p.

1) Lombroso was convinced that the criminal individual was a person who was immoral and a "sort of throwback to primate to man who had developed to the same biological level as the modern, non-criminal man." (Gado, nd, p. 1) Lombroso viewed this inferior being as a 'born criminal' or someone who was predetermined to behave immorally due to his inherited primate traits. However, it is reported that the assumptions of Lombroso unraveled as other research replaced his theories.

Lombroso failed to use a control group by which to compare the results of his study and this became known as 'The Lombrosian Fallacy'. (Gado, nd, p. 1) V. Y Chromosome Theory.