Abstract :
— Deviance is defined as any behaviour, belief or
condition that violates social norms in society or group
(Kendall 2006). However, the term deviance is relative and
the nature of deviant activities is also relative which varies
across time and space. This study investigates the current
trends in deviant behaviour among a sample of high school
and higher secondary school students in Chennai city. The
study?s process involved a self-administered five-point
Likert scale questionnaire that was given to 200 high
school and higher secondary school students representing
different categories of schools in the city. The study has
attempted to not only find out the prevalence of traditional
forms of deviant behaviour such as truancy, status
offences, etc. but to also study more specific forms of
deviant behaviour indulged in using modern day
technology, particularly using cyberspace as the medium.
The preliminary findings of the study show that a
considerable percentage of the respondents were found to
have indulged in various forms of deviant behaviour
including Internet and web-oriented deviance.
Keyword :
Children, Deviant behaviour, Information communication technology