NCJ Number
39736
Date Published
1977
Length
189 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK EXAMINES THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES BY WICH PEOPLE BECOME NVOLVED AND SUSTAIN CAREERS IN PROFESSIONAL CARD AND DICE HUSTLING.
Abstract
ASSUMING AN INTERACTIONIST ORIENTATION, THE AUTHORS ATTEMPT TO INDICATE THE PERSPECTIVES FROM WHICH PROFESSIONAL CARD AND DICE HUSTLERS AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS MEMBERS OF GROUPS OPERATE AND HOW THEY GO ABOUT STRUCTURING GAMES AND INVOLVING OTHERS IN THEIR HUSTLE. THE FIRST PART OF THIS EXAMINATION FOCUSES ON CONTINGENCIES AFFECTING INITIAL INVOLVEMENTS IN CHEATING CARD/DICE GAMES AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THESE INVOLVEMENTS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME STABILIZED. THE SECOND SECTION EMPHASIZES THE PROCESSES BY WHICH HUSTLERS LOCATE EVENTS AT WHICH TO GAMBLE, GAIN ACCESS TO THESE EVENTS, AND MANIPULATE THE GAMES. THE LAST CHAPTERS EXAMINE THE LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES AND HOME LIVES OF CAREER HUSTLERS, THE DIFFICULTIES PERSONS EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO LEAVE CAREER HUSTLING, AND POOL, GOLF, AND TRACK HUSTLES, ACTIVITIES IN WHICH CARD AND DICE HUSTLERS ARE FREQUENTLY INVOLVED PRIOR TO, CONCURRENTLY WITH, OR FOLLOWING THEIR CARD AND DICE PURSUITS. FINALLY, THE MATERIAL ON CARD AND DICE HUSTLING IS REVIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF SUTHERLAND'S (1937) ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON HUSTLER AND THIEVES. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF REVIEW OF SOME OF THE MAJOR THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY DEVIANCE THEORY, CONCLUDING WITH A GENERAL STATEMENT ON DEVIANCE INVOLVEMENT PROCESSES. A FOUR-PAGE GLOSSARY OF HUSTLING TERMS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND A SUBJECT AND AUTHOR INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW