Creating Deviance Rules: A Macroscopic Model

• Published in: Sociological quarterly Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 157 - 169
• Main Authors: Troyer, Ronald J., Markle, Gerald E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-1982; Southern Illinois University Press; University of Missouri-Columbia, etc
• Subjects: Criminal law; Cultural customs; DEVIANCE; Deviant behavior; Deviant/Deviance/Deviates/ Deviation; Dialectic; Model/Modeling/Models; Modeling; Rule/Rules; Social epistemology; Social issues; Social movements; Social theories; SOCIOLOGY; Sociology of deviance
• ISSN: 0038-0253; 1533-8525
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1982.tb01005.x

In this paper we propose a macrolevel model for analyzing the creation of deviance rules. We begin by placing the phenomenon within the context of the social factist and social definitionist sociological traditions, identifying the insights and difficulties the social problems literature presents for explaining deviance rule creation. We suggest that the theoretical difficulties can be resolved by placing the process within a sociology of knowledge framework. The consequent dialectical model of deviance designation is based on the assumption that society is composed of a number of general interests in varying degrees of conflict with prevailing definitions of deviance representing outcomes of previous contests. This balance or accommodation becomes vulnerable with the introduction or increase in strain which is a potential resource for interest groups desiring a new definition. The outcome of the ensuing conflict is seen as dependent on the ability of the combatants to employ resources in the battle. We conclude by identifying the advantages the model has for studying the deviance rule creation process.