Deviant Behavior

Deviant Behavior and the Internet

Recent behavior by a member of Congress makes many of us wonder what is acceptable in our electronic world. Which behaviors are "normal" and which behaviors are simply not acceptable? Most of us live our lives endeavoring to understand our oft contradictory needs and to painstakingly navigate the ensuing moral skirmishes. These exquisitely uncomfortable moral brawls build our character -- one scuffle at a time. Though there is middle ground, dependency and individuality, independence and responsibility, and purpose and pleasure are lifelong combatants.

Even the most deviant (different) of us has the same lifelong riddles to unravel, though they may undertake the process in a way we do not understand or accept. As you read and learn, please be assured there are many ways to interpret human behaviors. If a behavior pattern is established and followed, and innocents are harmed or demeaned, then that behavior is deviant, even if it is accepted by society.

Though at times, an individual seems to harm only himself, such efficient containment of damage is highly unlikely. Assuming that questionable supposition, even then, nearly everyone has friends or family. Heartbreak happens. When someone we love is harmed, even by him or herself, we are not left unscathed. The circle expands.

Deviant behavior, or the seeking out of deviant behavior, is fraught with complexity. If you explore deviance with an open mind, a hunger to learn and hope, you will gain far more than if you attempt to apply isolated, derogatory data to individuals. I cannot begin to express my misgivings about using psychological factoids to create labels and then pasting these selfsame, highly dubious labels on a specific, fallible human being.

If you read with sanguinity and a sincere desire to understand the intricacies of human nature and behavior and our (at best) convoluted thought processes you will gain insight. Be prepared to discover that insight frequently comes with a price tag. There are innumerable unique intentions for every human behavior. You may very well recognize a predictable pattern without having a clue about the motivation prompting the behaviors. Does it matter? Perhaps. When in doubt (and you will always be in doubt) be generous.

Being generous does not mean shunning action, such as consulting a professional or taking a class or reading more about the psychology of deviance. Related subjects might include criminality, sociology of deviance, evolution of deviance and abnormal psychology. It is important to recognize that deviance does not always have a psychological diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Text Revised (2000).

The DSM TR manual is used to diagnose all recognized psychological disorders. American researchers, physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors and other practitioners use the manual to guide our way to a diagnosis. Deviance can simply mean different or it can mean a combination of behaviors that defy current diagnostic categorization. Unfortunately, deviance cannot be identified using a microscope.

Seeking deviant behavior is not a leisure pursuit, take action when indicated or necessary. However, before taking action, or distressing yourself and others, reality test with someone you trust.

Computer E-Deviance

In the 21st Century deviant behavior has gone where the "actions is"-on-line. A recent research study, by the software giant Microsoft, surveyed 497 respondents and discovered that deviant behavior is not only face to face but computer to computer. When asked how frequently "bad behavior" occurs on-line 66 % of the respondents answered either often or very often.

Only 4 percent answered "never" or "seldom" (obviously optimists). Fifty-nine percent of the participants believe that anonymity emboldens deviant behavior. When one sits alone, hiding behind his or her computer, outrageous behavior is relatively safe. Forty-three percent of respondents thought deviant behavior was fueled by a desire for attention. Perceived motivation behind someone's behavior influences how individuals perceive the actor. This explains much about our legal system.

The 21st Century

Well, here we are, trying to understand our world as it is in 21st Century America and determine what is acceptable for us as a society. I wish us luck...

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