The study of deviance: Where do we go from here?

Abstract

In a commentary on Meier, the authors suggest that the study of deviance is a highly prized specialty within sociology, that there is general agreement on definitions of deviance, and that such definition should consider degrees of social hostility and other factors that Gibbs calls “normative properties.” Meier's proposals for the measurement of norms and their violations are considered and found to have potential for the discipline although they may be difficult to operationalize.