A misconduct is a legal term meaning a wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts.
Two categories of misconduct are sexual misconduct and official misconduct. In connection with school discipline, "misconduct" is generally understood to be student behavior that is unacceptable to school officials but does not violate criminal statutes, including absenteeism, tardiness, bullying, and inappropriate language. (Special Education Dictionary, 2003, LRP Publications) Misconduct in the workplace generally falls under two categories. Minor misconduct is seen as unacceptable but is not a criminal offense (e.g. being late). Gross misconduct can lead to dismissal, (e.g. stealing or sexual harassment).
Social misconduct has been variously categorized as vice by philosophers, sin by priests, crime by policemen, and disease by psychiatrists. Diagnosing social misconduct as psychosis has serious social consequences: involuntary commitment, involuntary drug treatments, and stigmatization. Psychiatric diagnoses are also powerful political and economic tools in the marketplace, serving the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.