Fringe dwellers: Processes of deviance and marginalization in groups

A discussion is provided of the variety of forms taken and functions played by deviance and marginalization, and of the variety of causes of and reactions to deviance. We then elaborate a model, based on the social identity perspective, of marginalization in groups. There are three variables. (a) Direction: whether the deviation from the prototype is towards the outgroup or away from the outgroup, (b) Motivation: whether members' dominant motivation is subjective uncertainty reduction or group and self-enhancement, and (c) Behavior: whether the deviate attributes his or her deviance to self or to the group. Some preliminary evidence is discussed.