NCJ Number
15037
Date Published
1973
Length
40 pages
Annotation
EXPLANATIONS FOR THE BREAKING SOCIALLY ACCEPTED RULES WITH EXAMPLES FROM THE WORLD'S SMALLER AND SIMPLER SOCIETIES.
Abstract
FIVE THEORIES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR INCLUDE SOCIAL STRAIN, SUBCULTURAL CONFLICT, PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE OR COMMITMENT, BIOLOGICAL DEFECT, AND HUMAN NATURE. EIGHT CATEGORIES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE THEORIES. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THEIR OCCURRENCE IN DIFFERENT FOLK SOCIETIES ARE CITED. A FOLK SOCIETY IS DEFINED AS ONE WHICH IS SMALL, HOMOGENEOUS, NONLITERATE, ISOLATED, AND POSSESSED OF A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE EIGHT CATEGORIES DISCUSSED ARE THEFT AND REFUSAL TO SHARE, SUICIDE, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL DEVIANCE, GENERATIONAL CONFLICT, PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS, MENTAL RETARDATION, AND MENTAL ILLNESS. THE ADEQUACY OF THE FOLK-URBAN DISTINCTION AS A THEORY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS ALSO CONSIDERED. THE AUTHOR QUESTIONS THE VALIDITY OF THIS THEORY THAT A FOLK SOCIETY IS ALMOST ENTIRELY FREE OF DEVIANCE OR DISRUPTION. A BRIEF HISTORY IS GIVEN OF THE STUDY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. A FIVE PAGE REFERENCE LIST IS ALSO PROVIDED.