THE FARREL-MORRIONE MODEL HAS SUGGESTED THAT NONCONFORMING BEHAVIOR IS A RESULT OF ASSOCIATION IN DEVIANT GROUPS, ASSOCIATIONS WHICH DEVELOP IN AN EFFORT TO ADAPT TO PERCEIVED SOCIETAL REJECTION AND SUBSEQUENT NEGATIVE SELF-DEFINITION. ASSOCIATION IN DEVIANT GROUPS PROVIDES THE SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR A MORE POSITIVE IDENTITY AND, AT THE SAME TIME, IMPLIES A SOCIAL STRUCTURE CONDUCIVE TO INCREASED DEVIATION, BEHAVIOR WHICH IS MAINTAINED BY THE GROUP'S ABILITY TO INSULATE ITSELF FROM EXTERNAL DEMANDS OF CONFORMITY. OFFERING PARTIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS SCHEME, A LOG-LINEAR ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS A RESULT OF ASSOCIATION IN DELINQUENT GROUPS CAUSED BY SUCH REJECTION. HOWEVER, WHILE SELF-DEFINITION IS ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY REJECTION, A NEGATIVE SELF-DEFINITION NEITHER CAUSES PERSONS TO ASSOCIATE WITH DELINQUENT GROUPS NOR IMPROVES WITH SUCH ASSOCIATION. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH NOTES AND REFERENCES. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT IS NOT INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (KBL)