Several theories from social psychology suggest the factors that influence the meanings that people attach to various interactions. The literature on stereotypes, labeling, and stigma as well as the cognitive theories known as cognitive dissonance theory and attribution theory have particular relevance. Research has indicated that specific qualities of the accused person, qualities of such observers as witnesses and jurors, and characteristics of the situation affect the individual and collective reactions to deviance. Crucial attributes of the accused person are the demeanor, attractiveness, verbal and nonverbal cues, and features such as race and sex. The observer's social background, views on issues like the death penalty, and other characteristics also affect the perceptions of the deviance. Finally, situational factors like the order of presentation of case materials and the characteristics of the people chosen for a lineup can also affect judgments about deviance. Further research needs to identify knowledge and methodological gaps, address ethical implications of the existing knowledge, and seek alternative processing methods to reduce the biases and ethical concerns that have been identified. 43 references.