NCJ Number
117491
Journal
Ethos Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 398-420
Date Published
1988
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Information from 14 members of a church group in a rural community formed the basis of an analysis of the reasons why people in small groups tolerate deviance by individuals.
Abstract
The six married couples and two single individuals range in age from 22 to 40. Most had college degrees. Most of the husbands are professionals; most of the wives are homemakers. Participation in the group is seen by the members as a vital part of their religious life. The members interact with each other at many formal and informal events each week. The frequency is partly ideological, because members assert that Christians should interact with each other as often as possible. However, the group continues to include two members who often engage in deviant behaviors while excluding potential members with similar deviance. Although the group's tolerance of the two deviant members may result from conscious and preconscious reasons, unconscious reasons are probably significant as well. Notes and 14 references.