ABSTRACT
A radical analysis of deviance and delinquency by its nature departs from conclusions reached by established theories. Social control is ineffective, is often self-defeating, and has destructive consequences to both deviants and the community as a whole as judged by its own standards. The nature of the threat offers new insights into the nature of deviant and delinquent behavior and a new perspective on social control goals within a society. For the social control of such deviant conduct various types of informal sanction, such as ridicule, criticism, or scorn, are customarily invoked. The basic adjective, deviant expresses an attitude toward certain kinds of behavior which the society has determined to be negative and harmful. From the point of view of deviance and delinquency as rebellion, the active and intrusive reactions of social control systems can be understood as repressive in intent and behavior. This repression, partially successful, wreaks havoc among deviants and delinquents.
