Behind the masc: The role of conformity to masculine norms and childhood experiences in deviant behavior

Crime is, and has always been, a disproportionately male phenomenon. In recent years, the importance of understanding how masculinity is associated with maladjusted behaviors has risen notably. We aimed to explore the association between conformity to masculine gender norms, with sexuality as a domain of masculinity, and deviant behavior, as well as the association between negative and positive childhood experiences and deviant behavior. Two hundred and thirty-one Portuguese 18- and 19-year-olds completed an online questionnaire that included a sociodemographic questionnaire and four scales (Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, Conformity to Masculine Norms, and Deviant Behaviour Variety Scale). The adverse childhood experiences and conformity to masculine norms were positively associated with deviant behavior, whereas benevolent childhood experiences showed a weak negative association. Notably, conformity to masculine norms predicted deviance at a level comparable to adverse childhood experiences. These findings highlight the importance of understanding deviant behavior among young men as embedded within broader processes of gender socialization, masculinity performance, and sexuality, with implications for gender-sensitive prevention efforts targeting male youth.