Deviance, norms, and social reaction

Abstract

The author suggests a scheme that attempts to resolve some of the conceptual problems and dilemmas that Meier argues persist in the sociology of deviant behavior. He proposes that a distinction be made not only between the normative and the reactive perspectives toward deviance, but also between “hard” and “soft” varieties of the reactive perspective. The normative perspective has limitations and drawbacks—as does a liberal (or “hard") reading of reactive theory. The “soft” variety of the reactive perspective attempts to surmount these limitations and drawbacks.