SECRECY AND PRESENTATION OF SELF (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A READER, 1970 BY CARL A BERSANI - SEE NCJ-006248)

• NCJ Number: 10211
• Author(s): H S BECKER
• Date Published: 1955
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Macmillan
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS, V 3, N 1 (JULY 1955) P 35-36, 38-41

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF THE WAYS IN WHICH MARIJUANA USERS LIMIT THEIR USE OF THE DRUG ACCORDING TO THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF POSSIBLE SANCTIONS FROM OTHERS SIGNIFICANT TO THEM.

Abstract

PERSONS LIMIT THEIR USE OF MARIJUANA IN PROPORTION TO THE DEGREE OF THEIR FEAR, REALISTIC OR OTHERWISE, THAT NONUSERS WHO ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM WILL DISCOVER THAT THEY USE DRUGS AND REACT IN SOME PUNISHING WAY. THIS KIND OF CONTROL BREAKS DOWN AS THE USER DISCOVERS THAT HIS FEARS ARE EXCESSIVE AND UNREALISTIC, AS HE COMES TO CONCEIVE OF THE PRACTICE AS ONE WHICH CAN BE KEPT WITH RELATIVE EASE. EACH LEVEL OF USE CAN OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE PERSON HAS REVISED HIS CONCEPTION OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ALLOW IT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)