The Relativity of Deviance

By John O. Curra and John O. Curra

Book Overview

The Relativity of Deviance is a primer on the constructivist perspective on deviance--the idea that deviance cannot be explained in terms of absolutes, nor can it be understood apart from its social setting. The book is frequently used alongside all of the major core deviance textbooks on the market. It answers such questions as: What is deviant? What is deviant behavior? How should the deviant be treated? Why is the same act sometimes praised and sometimes condemned? Readers will see that what qualifies as deviance varies from place to place, time to time, and situation to situation. The book explores some of the most frequent contexts for deviant behavior in ways that challenge definitive or objective judgments.

The Fifth Edition has been updated to include the most current developments in American society, including deviance at the highest levels of national politics and corporate life, sex abuse scandals, the opioid crisis, and the growing decriminalization of marijuana.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1544309228
• ISBN13: 9781544309224
• Release Date: November 2019
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Deviance explained

Not only did I study this book, I had the opportunity to learn from the author himself, John Curra. The book is very explanatory and easy to follow. It is recent and covers every area of social deviance. It is short and is very helpful in many aspects. The author is thorough and uses many real-life examples to get his point across. The book is definitely recommended to get an overall interpretation of such issues like alcoholism and rape.