Deviance and Deviants: A Sociological Approach

Often misconstrued as a synonym for depravity, deviance reflects more profoundly on the socially–constructed norms it is defined in opposition to than on the individual behaviors it is used to describe. This groundbreaking new textbook provides an engaging, sociologically–informed examination of how deviance is defined and what it means to be classed a deviant. Featuring an analytical through–line assessing the role of media in crafting and perpetuating definitions of deviance, the book examines an array of sexual, mental, and criminal deviances, as well as addressing those that are often overlooked, such as elite deviance, cyberdeviance, and deviant occupations. The authors interrogate pseudoscientific explanations for deviant behavior debunking many of the myths associated with deviance. With questions to measure specific learning outcomes, a rolling glossary of key terms, and insights from people who have themselves been labeled as deviant,  Deviance and Deviants will inform and enlighten students interested in better understanding the nuances of society s relationship with deviance.

  William E. Thompson is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University–Commerce. He is the co–author of  Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology (with J. Hickey, 7 th  edition, 2011) a leading introductory sociology textbook, and  Juvenile Delinquency: A Sociological Approach (with J. Bynum, 9 th  edition, 2012) one of the foremost textbooks on delinquency studies. Professor Thompson has published more than thirty articles in professional journals, including several that have been reprinted in textbooks and anthologies. Jennifer C. Gibbs is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Pennsylvania State University–Harrisburg. With articles published in several journals, including Crime, Law and Social Change , Police Practice and Research: An International Journal , and Violence Against Women , Dr. Gibbs is a member of the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.