Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory

dispute hypothesis is based on the idea that the of import causes of crime and deviance argon the economic and brotherly differences among members of a society, prompting the incur- nons to act off, if not to fleece the flips. According to this opening, nefarious law and the entire criminal justice system tend to be lucky toward the wealthy and the tendinous elites, while the governmental policies be aimed at controlling only the needy and suffering members of society.Moreover, the theory assumes that the entire criminal justice body structure is aimed at compelling all members of society to relieve the standards of good bearing and morality that be created by the ample and the powerful. There is a focus on separation between the haves and the have-nots, so as to cherish the haves from physical attacks by the have-nots, and also to protect them from existence stealbed. In the process, however, the rights of the poor and needy population could be ignored. The midd le family unit, on the other hand, enjoys the legal rights of the elites by siding with them.These people believe that they might be able to rise in rank by backing up the status quo ( contravene, 2005). The simplistic deviation theory has been rationaliseed further thus Street crimes, even kid monetary ones atomic number 18 routinely punished preferably severely, while large scale financial and ancestry crimes are treated much more leniently. stealing of a television might receive a longer sentence than stealing millions through illicit business practices. William Chambliss, in a gradeic turn out The Saints and the Roughnecks, compared the outcomes for two conclaves of adolescent misbehavers. The first, a lower class group ofboys, was hounded by the local police and tagged by teachers as delinquents and future criminals, while the upper-middle class boys were equally degenerate, but their actions were Deviant Behavior in the Light of steepment Theory 2 pen off as y outhful indiscretions and learning experiences (Conflict). Although there is truth to the contravention theory, it is only partial. Of a certainty, there are countless people counted among the juicy and the powerful who have engaged in aberrant behaviors. What is more, they have not found the law to be lax toward them. As an example, both of President George W. furnishs daughters have been in trouble with the law (Montgomery, 2001). The daughter of the Presidents brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, has also been arrested for unnatural behavior (Jeb, 2002). The conflict theory does not consecrate in their cases. Nor does it declare in the case of Enron and Worldcom prolific businesses that should have been untouched by the laws of the land if the conflict theory were entirely align. Although there whitethorn be instances where the conflict theory correctly explains deviate behavior, it is clear that this theory cannot be applied to all places in the world at all times.Ther e are many another(prenominal) nations in the world where corruption is the law of the land, and seediness is the norm. In the developing regions of the world, in particular, the have-nots may rob the haves or simply act out because they are disturbed by the unfairness that is mete out to them. However, it is not correct to understand aberrant behavior only in the light of the conflict theory. If we are to believe that it is conflict theory alone that explains unnatural 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 therefore more pliable Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 3 learners of deviance may have developed close 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 social norms are established by the rich and the powerful, so therefore they cannot possibly go once morest their own rules. As explained previously, this assumption of the conflict theory is not true, visual perception that the rich and the powerful are also know 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 known that there are ever people that try to work hard and honestly, disdain 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. til now another theory that conflicts with the conflict theory is the fond control theory that explains why people may not engage in deviant behaviors.According to this theory, individuals may follow the societal norms because of their connecting social bonds (Sociological Theories). In other words, they may refuse to engage in deviant behaviors for the following reasons (1) attachment a broadside of the connectedness between individuals Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 4 (2) committal a greenback of the stake a someone has in the club (3) involvement a measure of the time/energy a person is spending on activities that are helpful to the community(4) whi msey a measure of the persons support for the morals and beliefs of the community (Sociological Theories). If all poor and needy phratry in an unfair society were to follow the societal norms because of their social contacts, the conflict theory would once again be rendered meaningless. It may be that some underclass(prenominal) family line with weak social bonds would engage in deviant behaviors in a corrupt society. In that case, however, the conflict theory would only hold in to that humble group of people. In actuality, such a group may be existent.Theoretically, however, it is possible for that group neer to exist. Thus, the conflict theory may actually 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 unprejudiced theory, which, like most theories, does not explain universe in its entirety.ReferencesConflict. (2005, Nov. 22). Florida State University. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, fromhttp//www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/conflict.htm.Jeb Bushs young woman Charged 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 jail on throw charge. Chicago Sun-Times.Sociological Theories to Explain Deviance. Retrieved Sep. 20, 2007, fromhttp//www.valdosta.edu/klowney/devtheories.htm.