The Mexican Medicine Huckster

Abstract

The deviant occupation of medicine huckstering is explored by concentrating not only upon the huckster himself but also upon his clients and the larger context in which he operates. The data indicate that the medicine huckster presents an extremely favorable response to social psychological factors operative within a subculture of poverty. The deviance of medicine hucksterism is not due to some breakdown of social equilibrium, but is itself one source of such equilibrium. This study suggests that the deviant role of the huckster is not a marginal role, but rather an interstitial role within Mexican society.