LEVELS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN GROUP CONTEXTS AND THE EFFECTS OF INFORMAL SANCTION THREAT ON DEVIANCE*

Abstract

Contextual data from a unique study (Notre Dame Study of Catholic Parish Life) are used to test multilevel models predicting three types of deviance ranging from excessive drinking to tax evasion. Measures representing informal sanction threat and aggregate‐level social integration as well as the interaction of these variables displayed the net effects that were predicted only for those types of deviance that appear to be less impulsive. In general, the deterrent effects of informal sanctions were found to be strongest in communities characterized by high levels of social integration.