Final answer:
Criminal behavior falls under the broader category of Deviant Behavior, which includes non-criminal actions that also violate societal norms. Deviance is not inherently bad and is defined and perceived variably within different contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option : a
The four definitions of criminal behavior align with what is more generally classified as Deviant Behavior. This broader category encompasses a range of actions that go against societal norms, which may or may not be formalized into law. Deviance is a social construct, defined by the violation of cultural, social, or legal norms, including both minor and major transgressions. It doesn't always warrant punishment or carry a negative implication, contrary to criminal behavior, which is specifically an infraction of codified laws. Sociologists utilize three theoretical perspectives to understand deviance and crime: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
These perspectives examine the role of deviance in reinforcing norms, the link between inequality and crime, and how labels of deviance are constructed and applied by society, respectively. The study of social control mechanisms is integral to understanding how societies attempt to minimize deviance and manage collective behavior. This includes an analysis of sanctions that can range from informal disapproval to legal penalties, aiming to align individual behaviors with societal expectations. Overall, while all criminal actions are considered deviant, not all deviant acts are criminal.