Deviance Process: Third Edition

Unlike texts that view deviance as an “essence,” independent of the mind of the observer, Pfuhl and Henry perceive deviance, and its opposite, “normality,” as impermanent, human creations, resulting from people interacting with one another—the outcome of the antagonisms, contradictions and conflicts in society. The perspective used is identified as social constructionist: one that includes elements of interactionsts and phenomenological sociology.

This thoroughly revised and updated text offers students a study of deviance from a perspective that will correspond to their everyday experience.

Like earlier editions of The Deviance Process, the purpose of this thoroughly revised and updated text is to offer students a perspective for studying deviance that will help them make sense of their everyday lives. The perspective used by Pfuhl and Henry is identified early as social constructionist, one that includes elements of interactionist and phenomenological sociology. Unlike the numerous texts that view deviance as the "essence" of things, independent of the mind of the observer, the authors perceive deviance, and its opposite, "normality," as impermanent, human creations resulting from people interacting with one another. Such a view regards deviance as the outcome of the antagonisms, contradictions, and conflicts in society. It pays serious attention to people's explanations for their actions, to the creation of moral meanings, and to the labeling, stigmatizing, and banning of one or another kind of behavior. Pfuhl and Henry's perspective requires that deviance be studied, at least in part, in political terms, i.e., as a fundamental part of the business of making and enforcing public rules, as an outgrowth of social policy. Above all, it requires that deviance be understood not as a static element, but as a sequential process, a series of events and actions occurring over time.

Stuart Henry is Professor of Criminology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Henry has published several books and over 50 journal articles on aspects of crime, deviance, and informal social control. Among his books are; Private Justice, The Informal Economy, and Degrees of Deviance.

Erdwin H. Pfuhl is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Arizona State University. He has been affiliated with several universities in the United States, Canada, and England. His teaching, research and publications have focused on delinquency, deviant behavior, the sociology of law, and several aspects of the criminal justice system.