Deviant Behavior in Modern Complex Society: Issues and Theories

Introduction

Deviance is one of the most important concepts for understanding human conduct. The term is used to refer to behaviors that violate norms beyond what can be tolerated by a group (Meier, 2014). From a sociological perspective, deviance describes behaviors or actions that violate social norms — including formally established rules and regulations as well as informal breaches of community standards. As a result, deviance is expressed in various forms such as crime, mental disorders, suicide, and alcohol and drug addiction. Since deviant behavior is largely regarded as a sociological concept, it evolves as society evolves. The determination of what constitutes deviant behavior is therefore shaped by current issues and events in the society. This paper discusses deviant behavior in a modern complex society, incorporating contemporary issues as well as key theories of deviant behavior.

Deviant Behavior in a Modern Complex Society

Deviance is a sociological concept used in explaining and understanding human behavior and conduct. It is primarily defined as an obvious violation of societal or cultural norms. Every society has rules and regulations governing the expected behaviors of its members. When members violate these rules or fail to model expected behaviors, they are considered deviant. Because deviance is a sociological concept, it is defined in several different ways, and what constitutes deviant behavior depends largely on prevailing societal norms.

According to Mehrabi et al. (2016), the concept of deviant behavior is best understood through a sociological analysis of three dimensions of social structure. Social structure plays a critical role in understanding deviant behaviors because it incorporates three major dimensions: institutional, relational, and embodied structures. From an institutional perspective, every organization and facet of society has established norms and expected behaviors, which become the premise for determining what constitutes deviant behavior. From a relational viewpoint, deviant behavior is determined based on how individuals or members of society relate to one another. The embodied dimension of social structure relates to social support systems that provide emotional and social support to members of society.

McIntosh (2018) supports the view that deviant behavior is multidimensional by arguing that deviance can vary significantly across cultures. This variance is attributable to the relative nature of cultural norms, which implies that deviant behavior is relative as well. Given the variance in cultural norms, current sociological research on deviance takes different forms. Therefore, to study norms and deviance, one must contextualize any action or behavior in terms of its surrounding circumstances.

Cultural Norms, Strain, and Social Change

One theory that supports the variance in cultural norms and deviance is Robert K. Merton's Structural Strain Theory. This theory postulates that cultural norms or goals shape institutional means, which in turn become the premise for determining human conduct and expected behavior. Individuals make decisions on whether to accept or reject cultural goals and institutionalized means. Conformity to cultural norms constitutes positive behavior, while rejecting those norms constitutes deviant behavior. Since cultures differ, the cultural norms and goals that define deviance also differ. Additionally, the theory states that when people are prevented from realizing culturally approved goals, they become frustrated and experience a strain that results in deviant behavior (McIntosh, 2018).

Salakhova et al. (2016) contend that deviant behavior as a social phenomenon generates a set of problems for contemporary society. The modern society is becoming increasingly complex due to various factors, particularly globalization, through which people can easily interact with others from different national and cultural backgrounds. Since the modern society comprises individuals from diverse national, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, complexities emerge — especially regarding what constitutes deviant behavior. These difficulties arise from the fact that what may be considered deviant in certain cultures may not be viewed as such in others. Salakhova et al. (2016) therefore argue that the search for answers about deviant behavior in today's society has become more important than ever, given that deviance in the modern complex society is increasingly multidimensional.

Hanmoğlu (2018) states that deviant behavior has become a daunting problem in contemporary society. The numerous changes in society have contributed to the rise of deviant behavior today. The emergence of deviance as a major global problem is partly attributable to the new frontiers of discovery and social change (Adler & Adler, 2006). As people continue to explore these new frontiers — particularly those driven by technology — they engage in behaviors that may not conform to cultural norms or standards of expected behavior. This issue is supported by the Structural Strain Theory, which offers a functionalist perspective on deviance. In this framework, social change and new forms of discovery create an imbalance between social structure and the means people adopt to achieve goals. This imbalance leads people to adopt measures that do not conform to cultural norms and social structures, ultimately generating and encouraging deviance (Crossman, 2018).

Conclusion

Deviance is a term used to refer to violation of social norms and is used to understand human conduct. This concept has gained considerable attention in the modern society, which is increasingly complex. The complexities are attributable to social change, globalization, and rapid technological advancements. Given the changes in today's society and differences in cultural norms, deviance is a multidimensional concept. What constitutes deviant behavior therefore differs depending on the society and the existing cultural norms. In the modern complex society, the principal issues surrounding deviant behavior include the imbalance between cultural goals and structurally available means for achieving them, as well as the practice of applying labels to certain groups of people. Both the Structural Strain Theory and labeling theory offer valuable frameworks for understanding these issues and for guiding future sociological inquiry into the nature of deviance.

References

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