deviant behavior

Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory

Conflict theory is based on the idea that the main causes of crime and deviance are the economic and social differences among members of a society , prompting the have-nots to act out , if not to rob the haves According to this theory , criminal law and the entire criminal justice system tend to be favorable toward the wealthy and the powerful elites while the governmental policies are aimed at controlling only the needy and poor members of society . Moreover , the theory assumes that the entire

criminal justice structure is aimed at compelling all members of society to accept the standards of good behavior and morality that are created by the rich and the powerful . There is a focus on separation between 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 people could be ignored . The middle class , 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 ( Conflict ' 2005

The simplistic conflict theory has been explained further thus .[S]treet crimes , even minor monetary ones are routinely punished 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 illegal business

practices . William Chambliss , in a classic essay The Saints and the Roughnecks ' compared

the outcomes for two groups of adolescent misbehavers . The first , a lower class group of

boys , was hounded by the local police and labeled by teachers as delinquents and future

criminals , while the upper-middle class boys were equally deviant but their actions were

Deviant Behavior in the Light of Conflict Theory 2

written off as youthful indiscretions and learning experiences ( Conflict

Although there is truth to the conflict theory , it is only partial . Of a certainty , there are countless people counted among the rich and the powerful who have engaged in deviant behaviors . What is more , they have not found the law to be lax toward them . As an example , both of President George W . Bush 's daughters have been in trouble with the law (Montgomery , 2001 . The daughter of the President 's brother , Florida Governor Jeb Bush , has also been arrested for deviant behavior ( Jeb 2002 . The conflict theory does not apply in their cases . Nor does it apply in the case of Enron and Worldcom - rich businesses that should have been untouched by the laws of the land if the conflict theory were entirely true

Although there may be instances where the conflict theory correctly explains deviant behavior , it is obvious that this theory cannot be applied to all places in the world at all times . There are many nations in the world where corruption is the law of the land , and...