| An effort will be made to resolve a major issue in control balance theory--the extent to which the forms of deviance on the deficit side overlap with those on the surplus side. In the original statement, repressive and autonomous deviance were conceptualized as stemming from separate and qualitative distinct continua of control imbalances. However, since the key underlying element is "seriousness" of the deviance, a problem arises in that the most serious repressive deviance (predation) may also be more serious than the least serious autonomous deviance (exploitation). But if balance stands between autonomy and repression and they run on different tracks, then it is difficult for the theory to predict predation by those with control surpluses or exploitation by those with control deficits. Clearly, there must be some intersection. I will offer some thoughts on that intersection.
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Updated 05/20/2006