RELIGION AND DEVIANCE - EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL-CONTROL ELEMENTS

This study explored, from a social control perspective, the relationsh ips between religiosity and various acts of self-reported deviance. As an extension of social control theory, this study sought to assess th e importance of religion relative to other forms of social control in explaining deviance. In doing so, unidimensional and multidimensional measures of religiosity were employed. Findings from this study are tw ofold: (1) In the regression model, neither multidimensional measures nor unidimensional measures of religiosity are significant variables f or explaining variance in self-reported deviance; and (2) The signific ant variables were moral beliefs, family attachment, and respect for a uthority. If religion affects deviance, it might do so indirectly. Thi s highlights a need to employ advanced research methodologies and stat istical techniques that are capable of clarifying the path of religios ity in impacting deviance.