Deviant Action Research Articles

A ROBUST NUMERICAL METHOD FOR SINGULARLY PERTURBEDSOBOLEV PERIODIC PROBLEMS ON B-MESH

This article examines periodic Sobolev reports with a singular deviation, which causes significant difficulties in numerical approximation due to the presence of sharp or boundary layers. A stable quantitative method for the effective solution of such problems in the Bakhvalov lattice, a special grid for the deviant action of the solution, is proposed. Singularly perturbed periodic Sobolev problems create significant difficulties in numerical approximation due to the presence of sharp layers or boundary layers. Our proposed reliable numerical method for efficiently solving such problems on the Bakhvalov grid, a specialized grid, is designed to account for the singular behavior of the solution. First, an asymptotic analysis of the exact solution is performed. Then a finite difference scheme is created by applying quadrature interpolation rules to an adaptive network. The stability and convergence of the presented algorithm in a discrete maximum norm is analyzed. The results show that the proposed approach provides an accurate approximation of the solution for singular problems while maintaining computational efficiency.

The social and psychological effects of publicly violating a social norm: a field experiment in the Satmar Jewish community

How are ordinary people affected by the experience of stepping out against conventions that are central to their community? We conducted a field experiment in New York City to study Satmar Hasidic women's personal reactions to deviating from their community's high-end clothing norm by wearing an inexpensive plain dress (treatment) vs. carrying a prayer book (normative placebo) for one day. We find that women's experience of deviation from their community norm of high-end dressing was strongly uncomfortable, but was not internalized as new attitudes or self-perceptions. Instead, we find that the experience with deviance mostly affected women's perceptions of their community, in terms of their closeness to the community and to some of its central tenets, and the community norm of high end dressing. In this setting, the experience of individual deviation seems to change perceptions of the context—its norms and our relationship to our community—over perceptions of the self and of deviant action. The results of this study help to map out a theory of community and social change that accounts for individuals' anticipation of deviance and social experiences alone, together, and over time that affect their decisions about whether to participate in change.

Good People Commit Bad Deeds Together: A Factorial Survey on the Moral Antecedents of Situational Deviance in Peer Groups

ABSTRACT This article empirically tests the theoretical proposition that moral norms of groups can be the reason why “good” people sometimes do “the wrong thing.” The issue is approached from the perspective of Wikström’s Situational Action Theory (SAT). SAT posits that criminal acts are the result of features of the person and the setting. Building on this, the hypotheses forwarded are: The higher the morality of a person and the general moral norms of a setting, the lower the likelihood of committing a deviant action. Moreover, for settings including a group: The higher the moral group norms of the setting, the lower the likelihood of committing a deviant action. These hypotheses are tested by means of a factorial survey (N = 1,679). The results of the analysis using fixed effects restricted maximum likelihood regressions (multilevel models) suggest that moral group norms do, in fact, play a central role in the causation of crime.

Choice-Driven Counterfactuals

In this paper, we investigate the semantics and logic of choice-driven counterfactuals, that is, of counterfactuals whose evaluation relies on auxiliary premises about how agents are expected to act, i.e., about their default choice behavior. To do this, we merge one of the most prominent logics of agency in the philosophical literature, namely stit logic (Belnap et al. 2001; Horty 2001), with the well-known logic of counterfactuals due to Stalnaker (1968) and Lewis (1973). A key component of our semantics for counterfactuals is to distinguish between deviant and non-deviant actions at a moment, where an action available to an agent at a moment is deviant when its performance does not agree with the agent’s default choice behavior at that moment. After developing and axiomatizing a stit logic with action types, instants, and deviant actions, we study the philosophical implications and logical properties of two candidate semantics for choice-driven counterfactuals, one called rewind models inspired by Lewis (Nous13(4), 455–476 1979) and the other called independence models motivated by well-known counterexamples to Lewis’s proposal Slote (Philos. Rev.87(1), 3–27 1978). In the last part of the paper we consider how to evaluate choice-driven counterfactuals at moments arrived at by some agents performing a deviant action.

Can the group disincentivize offending? Considering opt‐out thresholds and decision reversals*

AbstractScholars generally agree that offending decisions occur in social context, with some suggesting that choice models should explicitly integrate the notion that the deviant actions of others can incentivize offending. In this study, we investigate whether group settings can also disincentivize deviant action via reverse bandwagon effects, where individuals reverse their offending decision and express an intention to opt out of the criminal act. Based on survey data from three universities using hypothetical scenarios about theft and fighting, we find evidence of opt‐out thresholds. Our findings indicate that deviant groups can serve as both an incentive and a disincentive, and that the relationship between group size and the perceived utility of crime is more complicated than prior work has suggested. Moreover, we find that these self‐reported opt‐out thresholds vary across scenarios, indicating that socially interdependent decision‐making processes may be situation specific. In the end, the study underscores the importance of acknowledging the social context in offending decisions and highlights that group effects may be more complex and nuanced than previously discussed.

Determinants of a Variety of Deviant Behaviors: An Analysis of Family Satisfaction, Personality Traits, and Their Relationship to Deviant Behaviors Among Filipino Adolescents.

In previous decades, numerous involvements of adolescents in deviant behavior have been increasing, and previous researchers examined different variables that may influence these phenomena. This study was designed to look for the possible predictors of deviant behavior, as well as its association with family satisfaction and personality traits. The study was conducted on 1500 participants ages 12–19 years old from selected schools in Nueva Ecija. The researchers used the Deviant Behavior Variety Scale (DBVS) by Sanches et al. (2016). It consists of 19 items (minor and severe) of a variety of deviant action such as thefts, drug and alcohol consumption, verbal and physical aggression, possession of weapons, vandalism, truancy, lies and defiance of authority, and selling drugs among adolescents (Sanches et al., 2016). Out of 1500 samples, 1227 met the criteria for the deviant behavior scale. Descriptive and Inferential statistics such as Mean, sd, frequency, percentage, Regression analysis, Pearson-correlation, and Mann Whitney U test were used to analyze this study. The research found that there are differences in levels of deviant behavior (Minor and Severe infractions) among sexes. Results showed that female participants have higher tendency to engage in minor infractions of deviant acts, while males had a higher rate of participation in severe infractions of deviant acts. Moreover, there is a negative/inverse association between family satisfaction and deviant behavior. This implies that respondents who participate more in deviant behaviors are found to be less satisfied with their family life, while respondents who participate less in deviant behavior are more satisfied in their family life. Lastly, the current study found that personality trait-agreeableness is found to be the best predictor of deviant behavior among adolescents.

When lending an ear turns into mistreatment: An episodic examination of leader mistreatment in response to venting at work

AbstractVenting—an emotion‐focused form of coping involving the discharge of negative feelings to others—is common in organizational settings. Venting may benefit the self via the release of negative emotion, or by acting as a catalyst for changes to problematic work situations. Nonetheless, venting might have unintended consequences via its influence on those who are the recipients of venting from others. In light of this idea, we provide a theoretical explanation for how leaders in particular are affected by venting receipt at work. Drawing from the transactional model of stress, we theorize that venting tends to be appraised as a threat, which triggers negative emotion that, in turn, potentiates deviant action tendencies (i.e., interpersonal mistreatment). Yet, our theory suggests that not all leaders necessarily experience venting in the same way. Specifically, leaders with higher need for cognition are less influenced by surface‐level cues associated with others’ emotional expressions and find challenging interpersonal situations to be less aversive, thereby attenuating the deleterious effects of receipt of venting. In an experience sampling study of 112 managers across 10 consecutive workdays, we find support for our theoretical model. Altogether, our findings provide insight into the costs incurred when leaders lend an ear to those who vent, which can result in negative downstream consequences.

Ethical Decisions between the Conflicting Priorities of Legality and Group Loyalty: Scrutinizing the “Code of Silence” among Volunteer Firefighters with a Vignette-Based Factorial Survey

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine volunteer firefighters’ inclination toward a “code of silence”. The likelihood of not reporting fellow group members’ deviant behavior is increased by group standards such as loyalty, but this comes at the cost of violating the law. A factorial survey was conducted with volunteer firefighters in Germany to test the influence of several factors in determining whether whistleblowing or conforming to a “code of silence” was more likely. The results show that the question of whether a firefighter will disclose a deviant action depends on the severity (e.g. the forcefulness) of the team’s or the team member’s wrongdoing. External threats turn out to have a significant opposite effect and foster the “code of silence”. Our results suggest that the factors that influence volunteer firefighters in this regard are similar to those that previous studies on the code of silence postulate as influencing professional working groups such as the police.

Analysis of Factors Influences Fraudulent Tendencies in Denpasar Rural Credit Institutions

Accounting fraud often occurs and increases in several countries and organizations. The deviant action in financial statements is one of the accounting fraudulent actions. The impact and consequences of accounting fraud cannot be avoided and microfinance institution will suffer losses due to this action. This study aims to examine and obtain empirical evidence of the effectivity of internal control effectiveness, information asymmetry, compliance with accounting rules and management morality towards accounting fraudulent tendencies in Rural Credit Institutions (LPD) in Denpasar City. Data is obtained by giving questionnaires to the leadership and accounting staff at the Rural Credit Institution (LPD) in Denpasar City. Determination of the sample using purposive sampling method. The sample in this study were 70 respondents. The analytical tool used is multiple linear regression analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Science (SPSS) program. The results showed that the effectiveness of internal control and management morality had a negative effect on accounting fraud tendencies. While information asymmetry and compliance with accounting rules do not affect the tendency of accounting fraud.

CEO Prestige and Strategic Deviance

Do prestigious CEOs engage in more deviant strategic action? Arguments built on upper echelon, neo-institutional, social capital and human capital theories make two contrasting predictions based on...

Značaj i domet funkcionalističkog koncepta socijalizacije

In this article author gives try to dispel the scope and role of socialization allong the lines of Parsons funcionalist theory of social system. Starting with pattern-variables (universality-particularity, specificitydiffuseness, qualities-acts, neutrality-affectivity, self-collective orientation) as a necessary condition of action, for actor must do his choice among them before start acting, author points out that individual in society meets readymade choices that must be adopted. Adopting and interioriyation of readymade social choices is seen as a primary function of socialization proces. Thus, socialization conects two levels: of presocialized individual, on the one hand, and of institutionalized level of social practices (roles and expectations connected with them), values, norms, and rules. Aim of socialization is to lift individual from natural buttom level to the institutional level by forming skilfull responsible person capable to perform various social roles and to fulfill expectations connected to them in the socijal interaction with others. Main conclusion maintains that social rationality limits full effects of socialization for, full institutional practice would be irational and disfunctional for society as well as for individual. Point is that, individual itself will resist to full institutionalization, and on the other hand, will fight for scope of freedom as a condition for rational performing of his roles. Teerefore, on the social plane we have institutional level of practice and non institutional level of it, as a components of social rationality. That means that in the continuum between conformity and deviant acting we have meny variations in individual performance of the action of same type or kind. So, next to the conform and deviant action we have variant socijal action of the individuals. Article is concluded with reflection of positive social functions of deviant practices as for example: prostitution, gambling, etc. These have function of social ventilation in favour to provide relaxation from institutional overloading of social actors.

Opportunities, Rational Choice, and Self-Control

In this article, deviant action is analyzed on the basis of ideas derived from Gottfredson and Hirschi’s self-control theory. Presumedly, self-control in interaction with opportunities can explain deviant action. This assumption is elaborated using the concept of high- and low-cost situations from rational choice theory. From this point of view, the hypotheses are that self-control predicts deviant action in low-cost situations, whereas utility predicts deviant action in high-cost situations. Two test strategies are employed in an empirical examination of these hypotheses. A standardized questionnaire was presented to a sample of 494 German adults aged 18 to 80. The results of both test strategies show that the assumptions of an interaction effect between self-control and opportunities are fundamentally supported.

Deviant Action and Self‐Narration: A Qualitative Survey through ATLAS.ti

This paper has its roots in qualitative analysis of accounts produced by an Italian serial killer. Theoretical references are related to symbolic interactionism and its developments in the field of psychology and criminology. The whole contribution is aimed to twofold purposes: A) to provide a set of criteria specifically addressed to study deviant action as system of meanings into two related contexts: the single action itself and the whole life history. According this point, paper introduces the concept of “deviant career” and it explains its development and steps; it also provides some psychological social points of views and contributions that scientific works offers. B) to think about potentialities of accounting interviews as powerful tools in clinical practice and empirical research too.Specifically, we discuss narrative about behaviour and life story as a resource in order to take suggestions about meanings, goals and rules of action. It also suggests something about functions that crime discharges in the whole pathway of one's life. Juridical case analysis, run by means of the software ATLAS.ti, is aimed to demonstrate theoretical reasoning proposed.

Introduction

Terrorism is a term constructed during the European Enlightenment era and inextricably associated with nation-building. To argue that terrorism has existed for all time is not only imprecise, but also creates serious problems for scholars who try to analyze terrorism systematically. Though the content of each article in this special issue reflects significantly different perspectives, terrorism is in the process of being negotiated and renegotiated within the changing boundaries of territories, nations and states. The research presented here, whether intentionally or not, emanates from this basic assumption. From fear of torture to the commemorative processes of civil society, terrorism is invoked to inspire and mobilize the national soul and (re)establish the sovereignty of political boundaries-states. When we received the invitation to create this special issue on terrorism, we realized that our approach to the study of terrorism would be challenged. Our approach focuses upon how definitions of terrorism and terrorists are created and the impact of those definitions. From the sociological study of law and deviance, we examine the processes that shift the moral boundaries, for example, between normal and deviant action. Under what conditions is deviant or violent action labeled as terrorism rather than war, revolution or protest? Surprisingly, a systematic review of the research on terrorism reveals a paucity of work in this area. Our approach also stresses the relevance of examining the role of the state in the construction of terrorism and terrorists. For the purpose of this issue, we build on the straightforward view of the state as outlined by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who emphasized the power of the military-industrial complex. As a former President and United States Army general, he was sensitive not only to the inappropriate use of power by the state in effecting change, but also to the ability of the state to evade the checks and balances of government. Of course, now the state has become the military-postindustrial complex and frequently operates through multinational corporations that often are beyond the control of moral or legal regulations. In addition, the state typically uses inappropriate means to maintain or expand its power, domination, and profit. United States Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis recognized the potential terror of institutionalized violence as practiced by the state. The state can legitimate the use of terror as a formal rational practice in the form of collateral damage or saturation bombing. The state is conceptualized here as the political apparatus that controls or attempts to control society. Recent research claims that globalization is weakening the state; for example, many suggest that the increasing power of multinational corporations and international nongovernmental organizations is eroding the state's power (Ohmae, 1995; Tanzi and Schuknecht, 1997). It seems premature to comment on this research, except to say that what we may be witnessing is in fact the development of different forms of the global state. Surely, the sociological perspectives on interlocking organizations, including the strength of weak ties, should be useful for future research on this topic. Some of the scholars whose work is included in this special issue use a framework similar to ours; however, we also accepted articles that focus upon the reasons people cross moral boundaries since that perspective can be useful in comparative sociological work. These articles also challenge other scholars to address the concept of terrorism directly in a meaningful way (Senechal de la Roche, 2004; Stern, 2003). In the first article, Charles Tilly critiques theories on terrorism by Jessica Stern, a 'former superterrorism fellow' in her popular book Terror in the Name of God, comparing Stern's definitions of terrorism with those definitions disseminated by the United States government. …

Planning and the neurotechnology of social behaviour

The human brain has a remarkable ability to generate plans for sequences of actions that allow human agents to co-operate with and to manipulate the behaviour of others. It is widely claimed that the operations underlying plan developments, behaviour sequencing and inhibition of inappropriate responses to the environment are carried out in the prefrontal cortex. This implies that the prefrontal cortex is a natural system with the capacity to utilise cognitive technology. The present paper argues that social competence is a manifestation of action planning in which other agents feature as plan elements. Accordingly, plans that involve other agents are expected to be more complex than plans which do not. In the light of evidence that negative information makes particularly heavy processing demands, social judgements involving prohibition or unacceptability are expected to create most difficulty for the human action planning system. These assumptions were tested by measuring the ability of patients with prefrontal injuries to detect anomalous action sequences, using a specially constructed Action Acceptability Test. It was hypothesised that if the frontal lobes play a major role in action planning, patients with frontal lobe injuries should show impaired ability to detect faulty action plans, particularly when such plans relate to complex social action sequences, and action sequences involving unacceptable behaviours. The hypotheses were generally supported as frontal-injury patients proved to be worse at detecting both complex social sequences and deviant action sequences than participants with non-frontal injuries and normal control participants. The results of the study are consistent with the view that human social competence results from the cognitive processes associated with action planning and the data also supports the claim that action planning processes are specifically disrupted by damage to the prefrontal cortex. The findings provide some confirmation for the Cognitive Technology perspective, in that action planning does seem to be physically associated with a specific brain area, and including social agents and deviations from acceptability in action plans do seem to be manipulations that operate to make action plans more difficult to process, hence causing more errors in individuals with damage to the prefrontal cortex. The results also provide some encouragement for the belief that new cognitive tools can be constructed that link brain processes to other levels of description, such as social behaviour. The Action Acceptability Test, a prognostic tool developed to predict the social competence of frontal-injury patients, is offered as one such example.

ATTITUDE-BEHAVIOR CONGRUENCE IN DEVIANCE THEORY

Abstract Deviant attitudes are taken to be those which involve a favorable orientation towards crime and a positive stance towards victimization. Implicit in traditional theories of deviance causation is the assumption that deviant attitudes are congruent (consonant with and predisposing towards behavior) with deviant behavior, while other theories imply an initial attitude-behavior incongruence (dissonance) such that attitudes are developed in the course of deviant action. Finally, attitude-behavior irrelevance is assumed in other theories. This paper examines these approaches and certain inherent problems, and reviews research which supports or disputes assumptions regarding deviant attitude-behavior consistencies and inconsistencies. It is argued that more attention needs to be given to conceptions which assume incongruence or irrelevance as they are useful in explaining the initial tentative and exploratory stages of deviant attitude formation, the transition from primary to secondary deviation, and the temporary nature of much criminal behavior.

The social organization of deviance

The social organization of deviance refers to the structure of the deviant transaction, the pattern of relations among its roles. Deviant transactions can be arrayed along a dimension of complexity. Three forms are distinguished: individual deviance can be carried out by a single actor; deviant exchange requires two deviant actors in reciprocal roles; and deviant exploitation needs an offender and a target Organizational complexity has consequences for deviants and social control agents. As complexity increases, deviants are more likely to be seen as responsible for their actions, those actions are more likely to be defined as serious, the response to deviance is more likely to be punitive, the risks of the deviant's identification and capture become greater, the range of tactics used by deviants expands, and the tactics of social control agents become reactive. The complexity of transactions’ organization has implications for the study of deviant and respectable action.

Effects of discussion on opinions concerning illegal behavior.

Summary In an attempt to generalize recent research on the effects of group discussion and to further elucidate mechanisms responsible for discussion-induced response change, 15 groups of institutionalized males convicted of felony and 14 groups of college males responded, before and after discussion, to three choice dilemma items and three ethical-legal dilemmas. It was predicted that (a) the enhancement of mean initial tendency observed on choice dilemma items would extend to the ethical-legal dilemmas, and (b) shift to increased risk on both types of items would occur if, and only if, subjects tended to perceive themselves as initially riskier than their average peer. On the choice dilemmas (with a Likert type response format) only small nonsignificant shifts occurred. On the ethical-legal dilemmas both the inmate and the college samples significantly increased their preference for the legally deviant action following discussion, although initially perceiving themselves to favor it less than their peers.