COMMITMENT TO DEVIANCE - THE NONPROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL IN THE COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 25446
• Author(s): R A STEBBINS
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 221 pages
• Sale Source: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMINES A THEORY OF FORCED BEHAVIOR OR 'CONTINUANCE COMMITMENT' TO HELP ACCOUNT FOR BEHAVIOR OF MEN WHO HAVE ONCE BEEN INCARCERATED.

Abstract

COMMITMENT IS DEFINED AS THE BELIEF OF THE PART OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HE IS TRAPPED IN HIS DEVIANT ROLE BY THE FORCE OF PENALTIES THAT APPEAR WHEN HE TRIES TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF IN NONDEVIANT CIRCLES. THE AUTHOR DEALS WITH DEVIANCE IN THIS WORK AS WELL AS WITH COMMITMENT. A SAMPLE OF 19 PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS IS INCLUDED TO SHOW HOW THE PENALTIES ARISING FROM THE ATTEMPTED REJECTION OF A DEVIANT IDENTIFY VARY. IN THE FINAL CHAPTER, THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR PRISONER AFTERCARE AND PUBLIC POLICY ARE BRIEFLY EXAMINED.