NCJ Number
25001
Editor(s)
D E BENSON
Date Published
1973
Length
295 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES PRESENTING CURRENT STATEMENTS AND ILLUSTRATION REGARDING THE INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE IN THE STUDY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE IS DISCUSSED AS ONE THAT VIEWS DEVIANCE AS A LABELING PROCESS WHEREBY DOMINANT SOCIAL GROUPS DELINEATE AND ATTEMPT TO CONTROL BEHAVIOR DEPARTING FROM SET NORMS. THE EFFECTS OF LABELING AND CONTROL ON PATTERNS OF DEVIANCY ARE EXAMINED, AS ARE THE REACTIONS OF DOMINANT ACTORS WHO OBSERVE BEHAVIOR THAT DIVERGES FROM THEIR OWN PATTERNS. THE INTERVENTION PROCESS OF SOCIAL CONTROL AGENTS IS ALSO EXAMINED. THE PROCESS BY WHICH A SO-CALLED DEVIANT IS SOCIALIZED WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE SUBCULTURE IS ANALYZED ALONG WITH THE DEVIANT'S PERCEPTION OF HIMSELF. DELINQUENT GANGS, HOMOSEXUALITY, NUDISM, PROSTITUTION, DRUG ADDICTION, AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE SOME OF THE DEVIANT PATTERNS STUDIED FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES.