NCJ Number
10861
Date Published
1963
Length
190 pages
Annotation
THEORY OF DEVIANCE AS A GROUP BEHAVIOR IN WHICH THE DEVIANT ACT PRECEDES AND, IN TIME, PRODUCES DEVIANT MOTIVATION.
Abstract
DEVIANCE IS CREATED BY THE SOCIETY'S DEFINITIONS OF NORMAL BEHAVIOR. WHILE THE DEVIANT ACT IS PERFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, IT IS RARELY REPEATED WITHOUT SOME FORM OF GROUP SUPPORT. MOVING INTO AN ORGANIZED DEVIANT GROUP HAS SEVERAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CAREER OF THE DEVIANT. FIRST OF ALL, DEVIANT GROUPS TEND, MORE THAN DEVIANT INDIVIDUALS, TO BE PUSHED INTO RATIONALIZING THEIR POSITION. AT AN EXTREME, THEY DEVELOP A VERY COMPLICATED HISTORICAL, LEGAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THEIR DEVIANT ACTIVITY. MEMBERS OF ORGANIZED DEVIANT GROUPS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON - THEIR DEVIANCE. IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF COMMON FATE, OF BEING IN THE SAME BOAT. FROM A SENSE OF COMMON FATE, FROM HAVING TO FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS, GROWS A DEVIANT SUBCULTURE - A SET OF PERSPECTIVES AND UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD IS LIKE AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT, AND A SET OF ROUTINE ACTIVITIES BASED ON THOSE PERSPECTIVES. MEMBERSHIP IN SUCH A GROUP SOLIDIFIES A DEVIANT IDENTITY. AMONG THE DEVIANT GROUPS DISCUSSED ARE DANCE MUSICIANS, MARIJUANA USERS, AND HOMOSEXUALS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)