ABSTRACT
Theorizing 'idiosyncrasy' then, refers to bringing all possible theoretical perspectives to bear, and discarding and weighing each until we have built a valid and useful explanation. The difficulty involves determining the extent to which we rely on theory to guide us in choosing what to look for and how to explain what we find. Just how much to rely on theory, and thus risk missing important idiosyncrasies of particular cases, or restrain theory and thus risk overemphasizing the idiosyncratic, is a tricky question. (Stoecker 1991: 102)
In Do the Right Thing (Johansson and Miegel 1992) we tried to solve this problem in different ways. First, we used a fairly open theory which took account of the main contributions thus far to an emerging, overall theory of lifestyle. Second, we introduced the distinction between ideal types of lifestyle and individual lifestyles briefly discussed above. Third, in discussing the case studies we also drew on the results of the more general quantitative study. In all, this enabled us to capture both general tendencies in young people's lifestyles and idiosyncracies inherent in the individual lifestyles.
