Social Deviance by Stuart Henry
This engaging introduction explores the meaning of social deviance in contemporary society, from criminal activity to alternative lifestyle choices. Stuart Henry traces the path by which we create deviance: how we single out behavior and appearances that differ from the 'norm', label them as offensive or unacceptable, and condemn them. It explains what kinds of behaviors are banned and who bans them, as well as exposing the important political influences on the social codes that lead to some people's behavior being sanctioned and others' being celebrated. Ultimately Social Deviance reveals the underlying process by which some people get sucked into deviant lifestyles from which there appears to be no escape, highlighting the central role of social stigma on a person's identity. At its core this book looks at who becomes deviant and why. It delves into the multiple motives that cause rule breakers to behave badly, at least in the eyes of those they offend, and it reveals the way deviants think about their actions, their moral identity and their fellow moral outcasts.
This book does just about everything I could have asked, and does it in a way that will allow students to embrace concepts of social deviance, understand the complexity of the issues, and be able to apply these ideas to their everyday livesIt is well written and uses simple, non-jargonized language with excellent examples to get its point across. I thought it would be impossible to get me excited about another text on this topic, but there are no books that match this one. Peter Adler, University of Denver Stuart Henry has done a remarkable job of introducing the student to what is perhaps the most intriguing subject in the undergraduate curriculum - the sociology of deviance. Yes, deviance is alive and well. Pick up this book and read it. It is a brisk, engaging, and informative account of normative violations and their aftermath. Our students will enjoy and learn from it. Erich Goode, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stuart Henry, Professor and Director of the School of Public Administration and Urban Studies, San Diego State University
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780745643045 |
| ISBN 10 | 0745643043 |
| Title | Social Deviance |
| Author | Stuart Henry |
| Series | Polity Short Introductions |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Polity Press |
| Year published | 2009-08-26 |
| Number of pages | 176 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |