Interactionist theory has been used primarily in study of deviance. It says that no action as such is good or bad, right or deviant. Also no person is inherently good or bad, deviant or normal. Many people engage in deviant acts and are not seen as deviants but continue to be seen as normal, respectable members of society. In some situations some powerful people label an act deviant and the person observed to be performing that act is labeled as deviant.

Once the label of deviant is attached to some persons, it becomes their master status. Subsequently, the other members of society start reacting to them as though they are actually deviant and different from others. Deviance becoming their master status in others eyes, and their reactions towards the concerned person, distort the self image of the persons labeled deviant, and eventually they start behaving or are compelled to behave like deviants. Society may leave no option for them other than behaving in a deviant manner.

Closely linked with the above, identity theory focuses on how individuals tend to choose certain roles from among the various alternatives available and explain them maintaining relative stability of self or identity salience (Serpe, 1987). This theory links identity with social structure by introducing the concept of commitment. It says that individuals have interactional and affective commitments to social relationships. The former refers to extensiveness or number of social relationships associated with a role and intensiveness or affect associated with loss of social relationships and activities associated with an identity.