Psychology
Symbolic Interactionism in the Maintenance of Deviant Subcultural Identities
Quick fact
Members of deviant subcultures often spend as much energy 'doing' their identity as they do the deviant acts themselves. They create shared slang, styles, and rituals that signal 'who we are'—and by rehearsing these together, the subculture's identity is collectively kept alive.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever changed how you act or speak depending on who you're with? If so, you already know that identities aren't fixed—and for those in deviant subcultures, this is a matter of belonging and survival.