Posted on: August 29, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

This may just be one of the best textbooks currently on the market regarding sociology, criminal justice, and the intersection of the two in social constructions of deviance. While this book is paced more towards upper-division courses, I believe that Adler and Adler do a great job in filling in any holes in terms of literature or concepts that an individual may have present. Where the textbook succeeds the best is in showcasing the prevalence of deviance in current society.

Mass media may show the most egregious situations in which deviants have acted, but Adler and Adler show the ramifications of deviance on a slightly-smaller scale. The presence of discussion questions at the end of each chapter will get readers’ minds going in ways that expand upon the material that is present in the title, as well as acting as a study guide for any quizzes, tests, or mid-terms/finals that may be present. I feel that Constructions of Deviance is the perfect introduction for any social scientist into the discussion of constructionism, using real life examples to properly firm up a learner’s understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the philosophy.

Additional nods to labeling theory and the importance of ethnicity and overall society in the creation of deviants and deviant behavior properly situate this work alongside others in the field. Drawbacks are few, and the different articles that are presented to readers will allow for easy expansion into the different fields with which Adler and Adler link their work. Students that are looking to go to graduate school or pursue a Ph.D. would do well to keep the title and use it to bolster works cited lists for later works.

Rating: 9.0/10

Constructions of Deviance: Social Power, Context, and Interaction (Textbook) / 7th Edition / Patricia A. Adler + Peter Adler / 2011 Wadsworth / 624 Pages / http://www.cengage.com

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