Constructions of Deviance: Social Power, Context, and Interaction

by Patricia A. Adler, Peter Adler

This text is the industry standard for publishing the most recent and relevant articles in the field. It demonstrates to students how the concepts and theories of deviance can be applied to the world around them. The authors include both theoretical analyses and ethnographic illustrations of how deviance is socially constructed, organized, and managed. The Adlers challenge the reader to see the diversity and pervasiveness of deviance in society by covering a wide variety of deviant acts represented throughout the text. Most importantly, the Adlers present deviance as a component of society and examine the construction of deviance in terms of differential social power, whereby some members of society have the power to define other whole groups as "deviant." The book takes an "interactionist" or "constructionist" perspective on deviance, looking at the processes in society that create deviance. The authors have selected studies that are ethnographic in character, focusing on the experiences of deviants, the deviant-making process, and the ways in which people who are labeled as deviant in society react to that label.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Psychology, Social Science, Textbooks, Crime, Read For School

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting chaps, could do without the slurs tho

[Noah Szlovák · Rating 2 out of 5]

some of the theories are pretty good, but a lot of the stuff is really outdated and doesn’t seem as relevant anymore

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essay's compiled by the Adler's, a well-known and accomplished couple in the field of sociology. Topics covered include rape, pedophilia, gangs, stripping, sexual asphyxia, etc. While it sounds graphic, the articles themselves are academic in nature, so most read like research, not novels. Still, for anyone interested in learning more about these topics or fascinated by social power and interaction, this collection is good enough to keep you interested. Though I had to read this for class, I plan on keeping the book as a reference tool for the future. I could easily see myself picking it up again and rereading the essays for "fun".

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmm, deviance.

[Kelley]

note to self: read "Real Punks and Pretenders" essay

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs an index to be even remotely useful.

[Laurie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great textbook full of interesting articles on deviance. It is very insightful and thought provoking.

[rhea]

For my Social Deviance class, interesting stuff.

[Sab · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 and half stars