| Current understanding of shoplifting, an aberrant behavior, suggests individuals recognize norms proscribing such behavior and consciously choose to break them. Thus, as extant literature suggests, aberrance requires rule-breaking. Existing studies also suggest, when recognized as breaking social norms, only a small portion of the general population engages in aberrant behavior.;However, a recent news article notes pirating downloaded music, an aberrant behavior, has now become mainstream. This activity has been performed by over 30 million unique individuals across all age ranges. This phenomenon is occurring at a considerably higher rate than existing theory predicts and among groups of individuals that do not seem to fit into the categories identified as those with a proclivity to commit consumer theft. While the current literature describes this phenomenon of non-aberrant individuals engaging in aberrant behavior in large numbers there is no theory to explain it. The author proposes a new theory, situational anomie, may explain this phenomenon.;The author proposes situational anomie, based upon Durkheim's classical variant of anomie, is a temporary state of normlessness that occurs when an otherwise non-anomic individual is placed in a specific situation which causes him to fail to recognize norms prescribing customary behavior to which he would normally adhere. To such an individual, the behavior is not aberrant, however to those individuals that recognize the customary behavioral norms that do exist, the behavior appears to be aberrant. Situational anomie, as a temporary condition of lawlessness, ends once the individual is removed from the situation. That is, the individual, once removed from the anomic situation, regains the ability to recognize behavioral norms and again adheres to such norms.;This dissertation tested situational anomie as an explanation for aberrant behavior by individuals who otherwise follow behavioral norms. The author employed structural equation modeling to test alternative models of situational anomie. Support was found for the existence of situational anomie. Additionally, the path from situational anomie to aberrance was significant indicating that situational anomie does lead to aberrant behavior. The author proposes future research is needed to test the ability of situational anomie to explain differing types of aberrant behavior. |
