NCJ Number
16493
Date Published
1975
Length
224 pages
Annotation
SURVEYS SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED FROM A VARIETY OF STUDIES OF DEVIANCY, ASSESSES THEIR EMPIRICAL VALIDITY, AND DELINEATES AREAS NEEDING RESEARCH DATA.
Abstract
THE PROBLEMS OF DETERMINING THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS THAT DEFINE AND SPAWN DEVIANCY ARE PRESENTED. THE AMBIGUITIES, RELATIVITIES, AND INCONSISTENCIES CHARACTERISTIC OF A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY ARE CITED AS MAJOR PROBLEMS IN ESTABLISHING GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF DEVIANCY AND FACTORS AFFECTING ITS FORMATION. BIOGENIC, PSYCHOGENIC, AND SOCIOGENIC THEORIES EXPLAINING THE CAUSES OF DEVIANCY ARE DISCUSSED. THE EFFECTS OF LABELING EXPERIENCES ON DEVIANCY CAREERS ARE CONSIDERED TO VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND BETWEEN SITUATIONS SUCH THAT GENERAL STATEMENTS LACK EMPIRICAL SUPPORTING DATA.