Patterns of deviant reaction: Some theoretical issues

Abstract

Concepts of deviance analysis should be applicable toany form of deviant behavior. In sociology, they have been restricted to traditional social problems, leaving other forms of deviance without analytic surveillance from the sociology of deviance. Deviant religious sects, deviant social movements, and deviant social actors may have much in common by way of reacting to social sanctions. This conceptualization gives a greater measure of legitimacy to laboratory experimental work in this area, freeing it from traditional substantive ties. In the laboratory experiment reported here, some patterns of deviant reaction are isolated. A few of these suggest parallels in the behavior of deviant social movements, and it is hoped that these reaction patterns may prove to be relatively free of substance if not culture-free.