Deviant Behavior as a Prerequisite for Illegal Activity

  • Sofiia VLASENKO

    PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher of the Research Laboratory on the Problems of Law Enforcement Management and its Psychological Support of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Postgraduate Education of the National Academy of Internal Affairs

    03035, 1 Solomianska Sq., Kyiv, Ukraine

    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3645-9599

Abstract

Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive examination of the problem of deviant behavior and its transformation into unlawful activity. The relevance of this issue is обусловлена dynamic social changes that have become particularly acute under wartime conditions, as well as the need for a psychological analysis of internal determinants that form the basis for the commission of offenses. The aim of the study is to provide a theoretical analysis of the psychological characteristics of deviant behavior as a risk factor for the emergence of unlawful activity. The article analyzes the concept of deviant behavior and characterizes its main types. Based on the analysis of theoretical sources, it is established that deviant behavior is a multifactorial phenomenon that is manifested not only in the violation of norms and rules but also represents a specific way of an individual’s adaptation to society. The leading factors of deviance are examined, and it is determined that social and psychological determinants play a primary role, while most behavioral deviations are of a complex and multicausal nature. The interaction of these factors contributes to the gradual transformation of deviance into unlawful activity. Within the framework of the study, unlawful behavior is interpreted as synonymous with delinquent behavior. The structure of legal behavior is outlined, which made it possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the components of deviant and delinquent activity. It is argued that the transformation of the structural components of behavior and the transition from deviance to unlawful acts are driven by external factors and the deformation of legal consciousness, particularly its regulatory component. Priority directions for the prevention of deviant behavior are identified. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of implementing the proposed approaches in the activities of law enforcement agencies and educational institutions in order to enhance the effectiveness of preventing unlawful behavior under contemporary challenges.

 

Keywords: deviant behavior; delinquent behavior; unlawful activity; deformation of legal consciousness; legal consciousness; prevention of deviant behavior.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Sofiia VLASENKO

PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher of the Research Laboratory on the Problems of Law Enforcement Management and its Psychological Support of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Postgraduate Education of the National Academy of Internal Affairs

03035, 1 Solomianska Sq., Kyiv, Ukraine

References

Andriieti, A.V., & Vavryk, L.V. (2024). Psychological aspects of prevention of deviant behavior of military personnel in the security and defense sector of Ukraine. Habitus, 65, 116-121. DOI: 10.32782/2663-5208.2024.65.20

Andrusyshyn, R.M. (2019). Deviant behavior as a form of social deviation. Legal horizons, 16, 24-29. DOI: 10.21272/legalhorizons.2019.i16.p:24

Black, D.W. (2024). Update on antisocial personality disorder. Current Psychiatry Reports, 26(10), 543–549. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01528-x

Chaikovska, O.M. (2015). Components of the system of factors of deviant behavior of adolescents. Problems of modern psychology, 28, 627-637. DOI: 10.32626/2227-6246.2015-28.%25p

Dunets, L.M. (2025). Main forms of deviant behavior during war. Scientific perspectives, 12(66), 2258-2268. DOI: 10.52058/2708-7530-2025-12(66)-2258-2268

Friedman, A.S., Kramer, S., & Kreisher, C. (1999). Childhood predictors of violent behavior. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(7), 843-855. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199907)55:7<843::aid-jclp6>3.0.co;2-x

Gardner, T.W., Dishion, T.J., & Connell, A.M. (2008). Adolescent self-regulation as resilience: Resistance to antisocial behavior within the deviant peer context. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(2), 273-284. DOI: 10.1007/s10802-007-9176-6

Glenn, A.L., Johnson, A.K., & Raine, A. (2013). Antisocial personality disorder: A current review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 15(12). DOI: 10.1007/s11920-013-0427-7

Heinze, H.J., Toro, P.A., & Urberg, K.A. (2004). Antisocial behavior and affiliation with deviant peers. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33(2), 336-346. DOI: 10.1207/s15374424jccp3302_15

Hinnant, J.B., & Forman-Alberti, A.B. (2019). Deviant peer behavior and adolescent delinquency: Protective effects of inhibitory control, planning, or decision making? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 29(3), 682-695. DOI: 10.1111/jora.12405

Hurtovenko, N.V. (2024). Methodological substantiation of psychological correction of deviant behavior. Scientific notes. Series "Psychology", 4(6), 26-31. DOI: 10.32782/cusu-psy-2024-4-4

Khudaverdova, A. (2021). Specific factors of deviant behavior of military personnel. Bulletin of Lviv University. Series "Psychological Sciences", 11, 225-230. DOI: 10.30970/PS.2021.11.27

Kikalishvili, M.V. (2011). Deviant behavior: Concept and features. Bulletin of the Academy of Advocacy of Ukraine, 3(22), 109-122. Retrieved from http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/vaau_2011_3_19

Kosson, D.S., Lorenz, A.R., & Newman, J.P. (2006). Effects of comorbid psychopathy on criminal offending and emotion processing in male offenders with antisocial personality disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115(4), 798-806. DOI: 10.1037/0021-843X.115.4.798

Kozyriev, M.P. (2016). Deviant behavior as a socio-psychological phenomenon and its prevention. Scientific Bulletin of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs. Series "Psychological", 1, 28-39. Retrieved from http://dspace.lvduvs.edu.ua/handle/1234567890/904

Lansford, J.E., Dodge, K.A., Fontaine, R.G., Bates, J.E., & Pettit, G.S. (2014). Peer rejection, affiliation with deviant peers, delinquency, and risky sexual behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(10), 1742-1751. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-014-0175-y

Lester, D., White, J., & Giordano, B. (2015). Cannibalism. Omega (Westport), 70(4), 428-435. DOI: 10.1177/0030222815573732

Lohvynenko, M. (2021). Concept and components of legal behavior. Entrepreneurship, economy and law, 4, 283-286. DOI: 10.32849/2663-5313/2021.4.44

Lôo, H., & Susini, J. R. (1976). La toxicomanie: Un comportement déviant. Revue du Praticien, 26(43), 2965-2980. Retrieved from https://bdoc.ofdt.fr/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=69793

Lukashenko, M.Yu. (2019). Traumatic experience of military actions as a factor of deviant behavior. Legal psychology, 1(24), 32-38. DOI: 10.33270/03192401.32

Mahdysiuk, L.I., Demchuk, V.B., & Pavlova, B.V. (2021). Modern approaches to prevention of deviant behavior in psychological service activity. Scientific Bulletin of Mukachevo State University. Series "Pedagogy and Psychology", 7(1), 9-17. DOI: 10.52534/msu-pp.7(1).2021.9-17

Makarenko, O.M., & Andreicheva, A.O. (2015). The concept of deviant behavior in social and psychological aspects. Scientific Notes: Pedagogical, Psychological Sciences and Social Work, 175, 61-64. Retrieved from https://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8917

Morana, H.C., Stone, M.H., & Abdalla-Filho, E. (2006). Personality disorders, psychopathy and serial killers. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 28(2), S74-S79. DOI: 10.1590/s1516-44462006000600005

Ono, Y., & Pumariega, A.J. (2008). Violence in youth. International Review of Psychiatry, 20(3), 305-316. DOI: 10.1080/09540260801990241

Parkhomenko, N.M., & Tymoshenko, V.I. (2024). Determinants and consequences of deformation of individual legal consciousness under negative conditions of the modern world. Scientific Bulletin of Uzhhorod National University. Series "Law", 81(1), 81-87. DOI: 10.24144/2307-3322.2024.81.1.12

Patterson, G.R., DeBaryshe, B.D., & Ramsey, E. (1989). A developmental perspective on antisocial behavior. American Psychologist, 44(2), 329-335. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.44.2.329

Petsa, D.D., & Rosokha, Ya.M. (2025). Deviant behavior under martial law: Factors, consequences, mechanisms of influence. Analytical and comparative law, 1, 53-57. DOI: 10.24144/2788-6018.2025.01.7

Pihl, R.O. (1995). Violent behavior. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 20(2), 101-103. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1188668/

Pundiev, V.V., & Basko, H.P. (2025). Psychological and pedagogical aspects of prevention of deviant behavior in the process of adolescent socialization. Mental health, 4, 157-161. DOI: 10.32782/3041-2005/2025-4.26

Repo-Tiihonen, E., & Hallikainen, T. (2016). Antisocial personality disorder. Duodecim; Lääketieteellinen Aikakauskirja, 132(2), 130-136. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net /publication/297714927_Antisocial_personality_disorder

Romanenko, O. (2021). Factors of deviant behavior of adolescents from the standpoint of different psychotherapeutic approaches. Legal psychology, 28(1), 7-13. DOI: 10.33270/03212801.7

Sakun, Ye., & Kysla, O. (2020). Correctional and developmental work with children with deviant behavior. Young scientist, 6(82), 111-114. DOI: 10.32839/2304-5809/2020-6-82-23

Shemchuk, O., Shemchuk, V., & Torchevskyi, R. (2023). Psychological and pedagogical view on the problem of deviant behavior of military personnel in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Military education, 2(48), 308-322. DOI: 10.33099/2617-1775/2023-02/308-322

Sterzer, P. (2010). Born to be criminal? What to make of early biological risk factors for criminal behavior. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167(1), 1-3. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09111601

Tymoshenko, V.I. (2011). Illegal behavior: Definition and motivation. Bulletin of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, 12, 61-67. Retrieved from http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/bmju_2011_12_10

Tymoshenko, V.I. (2020). Deformed legal consciousness as a prerequisite for illegal behavior. Scientific notes of the V.I. Vernadsky Tavrichesky National University. Series "Legal Sciences", 31(70), 27-32. DOI: 10.32838/1606-3716/2020.4/05

Tymoshenko, V.I., & Korolchuk, V.V. (2023). Causes and legal consequences of deviant behavior. Scientific Bulletin of Uzhhorod National University. Series "Law", 76(1), 73-78. DOI: 10.24144/2307-3322.2022.76.1.11

Yatchuk, M.S. (2017). The problem of deviant behavior among employees of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine. Current problems of psychology, 11(16), 245-255. Retrieved from http://appsychology.org.ua/data/jrn/v11/i16/26.pdf


Abstract views: 8
PDF Downloads: 4
Published
2026-06-30
Section
Articles