NCJ Number
53298
Editor(s)
R A FARRELL,
V L SWIGERT
Date Published
1975
Length
470 pages
Annotation
NONCONFORMITY IS CONCEPTUALIZED AS A MULTIFACETED OUTCOME OF NORMAL, RATHER THAN ABERRANT, SOCIAL PROCESSES IN THIS COMPENDIUM OF THE MAJOR THEORIES OF SOCIAL DEVIANCE.
Abstract
MAJOR SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF SOCIAL DEVIANCE ARE COVERED COMPREHENSIVELY AND BROUGHT TOGETHER IN THIS TEXT FOR A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF DEVIANCE CAUSATION. THE SOCIAL PROCESSES THAT PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN DEVIANCE ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THAT PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN CONFORMITY, AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DEVIANCE CAUSATION WHICH SERVE TO REINFORCE THE INTEGRATIVE ASPECT OF PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR ARE INCLUDED. THE THEORIES REFLECT THE PROCESSES INHERENT IN BEHAVIOR AND COVER THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE STRUCTURAL ORIGINS OF NONCONFORMITY (THE FUNCTIONS OF DEVIANCE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEM); (2) THE NATURE OF SOCIAL DEFINITIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE CREATION OF DEVIANCE CATEGORIES; (3) INTERACTION AMONG THE DEVIANT AND 'REACTING OTHERS,' AND ITS EFFECT ON SELF-DEFINITION; (4) THE ANOMIE THEORY (THE STRAINING OF THE NONCONFORMIST TOWARD ADAPTATION AND AVAILABLE MODES OF ADAPTATION); (5) THE LEARNING OF NORMATIVE PATTERNS OF A SUPPORTIVE SUBCULTURE; (6) THE REINFORCEMENT OF DEFINITIONS AND REACTIONS AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SUBCULTURES AND THE LARGER SOCIETY; AND (7) ALTERNATIVE METHODS WHEREBY MAJOR THEORIES MAY BE SYNTHESIZED. EACH CHAPTER IS A MULTIAUTHORED ANTHOLOGY, PRECEDED BY A SYNOPSIS. THE BOOK DOES NOT INCLUDE CRITIQUES OF THE THEORIES DISCUSSED, NOR DOES IT DEAL WITH RELATED RESEARCH; IT IS INTENDED NOT ONLY TO FAMILIARIZE STUDENTS WITH BASIC PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL DEVIANCE BUT ALSO TO STRESS THE POTENTIAL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATIVE VIEW OF THE SUBJECT. NOTES AND REFERENCES FOLLOW DIVERSE ARTICLES. AN INTRODUCTION WITH BRIEF EXPLANATIONS OF THE PREDOMINANT THEORIES, FIGURES, TABLES, NAME INDEX, AND SUBJECT INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (FCW)