Morality and Behavior

It would be naïve to believe that simply because rules and regulations have been established regarding moral behavior that all members of society would automatically adhere to them. There is an ever-increasing list of criminological theories that attempt to explain deviant behavior, and psychologists have also attempted to provide theoretical explanations for why people lie and cheat. At the same time, our society seems to admire immoral and/or illegal behavior as it becomes painfully obvious that lies and deception have become common tools of politicians and the criminal justice system. Yet, there is a tendency to make heroes out of people who lie and engage in criminal behavior. One need not look far to find examples of this misplaced hero worship.