Deviant behavior as a socio-psychological phenomenon

The article considers deviant behavior. Nowadays this topic is very important because of the turning period of modern Russian society. Current quality shifts in social relations among persons, families and society influence a personality not only positively but negatively. The article deals with problems and trends of modern Russian society which led to the necessity to study the nature and principles of deviant behavior and its subjects (a deviant and antisocial unions) both in the domestic and in foreign psychological science. The leading approaches are holistic, system and dialectical approaches. The article discusses the results of the theoretical analysis of deviant behavior. It traces the development of this concept from antiquity to the present. It concludes about the content characteristics of deviant behavior as a socio-psychological phenomenon. The data of this article could be useful for psychologists, social workers and employees of educational institutions.