Deviant Behavior

by Erich Goode

Book Overview

Deviant Behavior provides a comprehensive study of the behavior, beliefs, conditions, and reactions to deviance, giving students a better understanding of this phenomenon. Deviance is discussed from the sociological perspectives of positivism and constructionism. Readers will grasp the reason behind deviant behavior through the positivist perspective and why certain actions, beliefs, and physical characteristics are condemned through the constructionist...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138191906
• ISBN13: 9781138191907
• Release Date: June 2016
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good, comprehensive overview of theory and types of deviance

I've taught sociology of deviance and social control at an average-student-level regional public university for four or five semesters using this book. For me, its strong points are: - good basic overview of main theories of deviance - theories are organized by positivist and constructionist theories - about half the book focuses on theory and about half focuses on types of deviance (crime, criminal violence, drugs, organizational deviance, sexual deviance, cognitive deviance, mental deviance, physical deviance) - students like the balance of theory and information about types of deviance, and the organization of the book makes it easy to break the semester into halves using spring or fall break as the mid-point - compact size means reasonable price and fewer student complaints about reading - well written, factually accurate The biggest challenge I've had using the book is that its compact size is a plus and a minus. My students don't want to read. The brief explanations of theories are abstract and deceptively easy-to-read to the unobservant reader, so they tend to get skimmed rather than read thoroughly. I have had to emphasize very close reading and to create additional course materials in order to help students learn the theories. I would give it five stars if the theory sections were expanded by several pages, perhaps using examples. I don't think the personal accounts that end each chapter add much; if removed, that space could be available for mini-case studies, how-to-apply-the-theory examples. I would like to see a discussion of developmental disability in the book. This topic is not usually included in deviance textbooks, but this book is unusual and the chances are possibly better with this one than with the others. In the past, I've used a deviance reader in conjunction with the book, but because the theory part of the course is so difficult for students, I have dropped that and added a set of articles to illustrate theory and deviance types.

Very interesting read!

I am a Sociology major and my professor assigned several chapters as extra reading for class. The personal accounts were so good that I had to read the whole book. This book is great for anyone interested in the micro level of society.

Good job!

This book came in a good amount of time and was in decent condition. There were some black crayola marks on the inside but otherwise, was good.

Deviant Behavior: a masterpiece already

In my research on the societal use of labeling in human males regarding masculinity, this book was unquestionably the greatest of assests I found. How utterly wonderful it is that an author has set forth such an honest work as Goode's "Deviant Behavior." The aims of any society are to control the individual based on a set belief system that is generally followed by a conventionalized public. Goode pokes holes in this fallacy. He exposes in no uncertain terms the bias prevelant in all societies, which eventually lead to prejudice and judgement.If I could recommend one book to the sociologist in training, it would be this one. No greater prize could be found than the astute knowledge offered hearin.