FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE OF SEX-ROLES AND SEX-RELATED BEHAVIOR IN SOCIETAL REACTIONS TO RESIDUAL DEVIANTS

It is generally assumed that sanctions against male deviants are more severe than sanctions against female deviants. This paper tests two hypotheses which state that the differences in sanctions vary depending on the functional importance of sex roles and on inherent behavioral differences between males and females. Results based on approximately 10,000 voluntary and involuntary admissions to Tennessee state mental hospitals support the hypotheses. They also reveal that the effects of functional importance of sex role and sex-related behavior vary depending on the social context (hospital or community) and/or degree to which the behavior is deviant. Although findings generally support the societal reaction perspective of deviant behavior, they indicate that propositions about interactions among contingencies need to be incorporated in the perspective.