aberrant behavior

is behavior which, in contrast to rebellious behavior, attempts not to openly violate norms, but to hide violations of social norms while propping up them up.

Further specifying the original model of individual adaptations, Merton now differentiates rebellion, called nonconformist behavior, from innovation, ritualism, and retreatism, termed aberrant behavior. The aberrant types of adaptations involve more self-interested conduct, as 'aberrants try to hide their violations of social norms even as they regard the norms they violate as legitimate As a result, their rule-breaking is socially defined simply as an effort to satisfy their personal interests in normatively unacceptable ways' (Merton, 1995, p. 12). Aberrants, unlike rebels, do not challenge the existing values and goals of a society or group's culture, but rather seek to satisfy their own personal needs. These are precisely the types of persons who are innovators accepting the broader goals, but using illegitimate means to achieve these goals.' (net)

aberrant behavior, n.All

aberrant behavior