STIGMA, DEVIANCE, AND NEGATIVE SOCIAL SANCTIONS

Objective. This study tests the hypothesis that deviant acts are more likely to evoke negative social sanctions if the person already is sti gmatized, on the assumption that possessing a physical stigma defines the individual as the occupant of a deviant master status. Methods. Mu ltivariate logistic regression models were estimated using panel surve y data from 4,065 adults to test the hypothesized effects of possessin g a physical stigma on evoking negative social sanctions among suspect s who have reported committing one or more of 15 specified deviant act s. Results. Partial support was obtained for the hypothesis in that (a mong suspects who have reported deviant acts) physically stigmatized i ndividuals are more likely to invite the attention of the authorities than non-stigmatized individuals. However, they are no more likely to experience rejection from significant others or to serve time in priso n or jail than individuals who do not have physical stigmata. Conclusi ons. The limited support for the hypothesis may have important implica tions for the labeling process as it is integrated into a general theo ry of deviant behavior. The risk for amplification of deviance may be disproportionately greater on the part of physically stigmatized devia nt actors than for those without physical stigmata.