Introduction
Deviance is behavior that goes beyond the general social norms of behavior. At the same time, different social theories can put forward original causes and signs of the emergence of such behavior among different social groups of the population. In the context of deviance, conflict theory can explain how different social groups behave and why deviance can arise through contradictions. Oppressed people and groups in power constantly struggle to determine the boundaries of their rights and freedoms, which causes deviation.
Sociological Theory
The best sociological theory that explains deviant behavior can be called the theory of conflict. In this position, the social order is based not on general agreement but on competition and conflict between social groups with different interests and resources (Ferris and Stein, 2022). This may explain how people interact to defend different interests. Different social groups constantly struggle for power and control over society’s resources. Thus, it can lead to inequality and deviance in behavioral characteristics.
An example of such disparity is the criminal justice system in the United States. It is a tool for strengthening the government and the privileges of the ruling class (Ferris and Stein, 2022). At the same time, good and just actions can overwhelmingly affect the working class and marginalized groups. The criminalization of drug use is an example of how the ruling class uses the legal system to control the behavior of other classes while identifying their behavior as deviant. Such actions demonstrate how even positive government actions can be traced to the use of conflict theory.
Conflict theory also argues that deviance can manifest as a societal response to social inequality and oppression. In this case, marginalized groups may resist the norms and values of the dominant culture through strikes and rallies or more violent protests. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement is a response to police brutality and systemic racism in the criminal justice system. The fight for rights, in this case, challenged the public stereotype that blacks are in a more criminalized society.
The Effective Strategy
Based on the chosen theory about deviance, the best approach to eliminate deviant behavior is to reduce social inequality. Such a result could be achieved by creating and implementing public policies aimed at eliminating differences between the social strata of the population (Kundi et al. 2023). They can be reflected in the development of poverty reduction programs, the expansion of medical coverage, and the provision of access to education. One possible solution to the problem is the redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation.
Progressive type of taxation can target high-income people by using funds to invest in welfare programs for the poor. This way, people will feel that the government cares more about their well-being. Thus, paying more attention to the deviant behavior of different social groups can change due to better provision and organization of suitable conditions for people. Medical care can also be the right strategy to address the causes of drug and alcohol-related crime. Thus, the degree of psychological problems that can lead to an increase in deviant behavior in the form of crime will decrease.
An important aspect is the correct criminal justice reform, for which eliminating aspects of discrimination should be a priority (Hadi and Chesney-Lind, 2020). This will eliminate marginalization and systemic bias towards certain social groups that suffer from unequal treatment. Instead of stigmatizing and punishing deviant groups, the criminal justice system should focus on their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This may include investing in education and training programs for prisoners to reduce recidivism.
Conclusion
It should be said that conflict theory offers a holistic view of the causes of deviant behavior. Social injustice and unequal distribution of resource opportunities among the population are why some people may show unusual behavior patterns. In this way, they can fight to ensure that resources are evenly distributed among all so that inequality and discrimination are eliminated. This requires a number of reforms, including in the justice system, in order to provide people with better conditions for integrating into society.
References
Ferris, Kerry and Stein, Jill. 2022. The Real World, 8th ed. W. W. Norton & Company.
Hadi, Syeda and Chesney-Lind, Meda. 2020. Female “deviance” and pathways to criminalization in different nations. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Web.
Kundi, Yasir, Badar, Kamal, Sarfraz, Muhammad, and Ashraf, Naeem. 2023. Interpersonal conflict as a barrier to task performance: the mediating role of workplace deviance and the moderating role of emotional intelligence. International Journal of Conflict Management, 34 (1): 104-124. Web.