NCJ Number
10128
Date Published
1973
Length
464 pages
Annotation
ARTICLES CONCERNED WITH THE SOCIAL PROCESSES THAT DIVIDE PEOPLE INTO TYPES AND THE EFFECTS OF THESE DIFFERENTIATING PROCESSES.
Abstract
THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK VIEWS DEVIANCE FROM SOCIETY'S PERSPECTIVE. EXPLAINING HOW GROUPS OF PEOPLE DEVELOP CONCEPTIONS OF SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS AS BEING DIFFERENT AND HOW THEY REACT TO THESE CONCEPTIONS. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WILL BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE SELECTIONS REGARDING AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL. WORKING WITHIN FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS, THESE AGENTS DEFINE PERSONS AS DEVIANTS ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL CATEGORIES, AND THEN TAKE ACTION ON THE BASIS OF THESE SOCIALLY SHARED DEFINITIONS. THE PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK TO THAT OF THE DEVIANT INDIVIDUAL HIMSELF. HIS RESPONSE TO THE LABEL OF DEVIANCE IS DESCRIBED. THE FORMATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNCTIONING OF DEVIANT SUBCULTURES IS EXPLAINED, ALONG WITH GROUP METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF BEING DESIGNATED AS ABNORMAL. THE FORMATION OF A DEVIANT IDENTITY THROUGH A PROCESS OF SELFTYPING IS DETAILED. ALTHOUGH THE BOOK FOCUSES ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE RATHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATIONS FOR ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR, IT WILL AID THE READER IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENS TO OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEGUN A LIFE OF CRIME. (SNI ABSTRACT)