Ghosts, psychics, communicating with the dead, UFOs, angels, ESP, astrology: These and other astounding phenomena are accepted as valid by a substantial proportion of the public. Why do so many members of our scientifically sophisticated society believe in assertions that scientists have roundly and almost unanimously rejected? And what does expressing such beliefs mean for the lives of those who do? Unlike many books on the paranormal, which are focused on debunking or verifying such beliefs, this author is interested in explaining paranormal belief as a sociological phenomenon: Who believes, why, and with what consequences?

--Deviant Behavior offers an engaging and wide-ranging discussion of deviant behavior, beliefs, and conditions. --Encompasses both the explanatory (or positivist) approach and the constructionist (or labeling) perspectives, thereby lending a broad and inclusive vista on deviance. --Explores how society defines what constitutes political deviance; and political deviance and its relation to social change. --Up to date: two chapters new to this edition, along with other timely topical updates throughout the chapters. --Although disease as potential deviance has been covered previously, new coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic greatly expands discussions of this topic. --Written by a renowned scholar of social deviance, the text has been praised as authoritative and accessible.

Celluloid Mischief examines the portrayal of wrongdoing and 'deviant' behavior in film. The premise is that films are material products of both individual and collective imagination that reflect the values and norms of the society that produce them. On this basis, it is possible to perceive how society understands and classifies particular kinds of behavior and assigns or designates classes of people and actions as 'good' or 'bad'. So-called 'wrongdoing' in movies, then, tells us about real-life norms, the violation of those norms, and the efforts to punish and control the perpetrators of those violators. Motion pictures embody information about the social world; they constitute a universe of raw particulars that await excavation and analysis. By applying the appropriate approach, what happens on the screen can guide us to an understanding of society and culture. Films are commercial products; the people who make them are members of a society, influenced by that society, who attempt to appeal to lots of other members of that society by producing something that that they want to see. A society's films tell us a great deal about the taste and proclivities of the society that produce and consume them. Using postwar and contemporary Hollywood cinema as case studies, this book demonstrates the complex and evolving nature of modern America's social, economic, and political values.

Celluloid Mischief examines the portrayal of wrongdoing and 'deviant' behavior in film. The premise is that films are material products of both individual and collective imagination that reflect the values and norms of the society that produce them. On this basis, it is possible to perceive how society understands and classifies particular kinds of behavior and assigns or designates classes of people and actions as 'good' or 'bad'. So-called 'wrongdoing' in movies, then, tells us about real-life norms, the violation of those norms, and the efforts to punish and control the perpetrators of those violators. Motion pictures embody information about the social world; they constitute a universe of raw particulars that await excavation and analysis. By applying the appropriate approach, what happens on the screen can guide us to an understanding of society and culture. Films are commercial products; the people who make them are members of a society, influenced by that society, who attempt to appeal to lots of other members of that society by producing something that that they want to see. A society's films tell us a great deal about the taste and proclivities of the society that produce and consume them. Using postwar and contemporary Hollywood cinema as case studies, this book demonstrates the complex and evolving nature of modern America's social, economic, and political values.

--Deviant Behavior offers an engaging and wide-ranging discussion of deviant behavior, beliefs, and conditions. --Encompasses both the explanatory (or positivist) approach and the constructionist (or labeling) perspectives, thereby lending a broad and inclusive vista on deviance. --Explores how society defines what constitutes political deviance; and political deviance and its relation to social change. --Up to date: two chapters new to this edition, along with other timely topical updates throughout the chapters. --Although disease as potential deviance has been covered previously, new coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic greatly expands discussions of this topic. --Written by a renowned scholar of social deviance, the text has been praised as authoritative and accessible.

"Out of Control" promises to be a key supplemental textbook in criminology and sociology courses, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Providing an indispensable overview of Gottfredson and Hirschi's influential self-control theory, this fundamental text evaluates whether the theory truly helps us to understand the facts of crime.
A range of prominent criminologists offers diverse views in fifteen original essays, providing students with the first proper assessment of self-control theory. This lucid book addresses important general considerations relevant to the theory, its relationship to other theories of crime, and its relevance to different types of crime. The book ends with a response from the originators of the theory, who tackle their critics' concerns and offer new explanations and revisions. This compelling text will be an asset for academics, researchers, and students interested in explaining criminal behavior.

Marijuana seeks to bring to the reader the whole configuration of this problem, which, like the Sexual Revolution and the New Politics, was at the heart of the alienation felt by many young people during the second half of the 1960s and the fears of social breakdown voiced by many of their elders. The book, first published in 1969, describes the history of marijuana use, how the drug was distributed in this country, the extent and patterns of its use by students and other groups, its possible connection with crime and drug addiction, and the widely differing arguments of its foes and supporters. It is replete with first-hand accounts by people who smoked and sold marijuana, as well as by those who studied the phenomenon from socio logical, psychiatric, legal, educational, and other viewpoints. Much of the work published on marijuana has dealt with its chemical, medical, pharmacological, and agricultural aspects. While these approaches are necessarily touched upon here, the focus of this still timely volume is sociological; it is the only anthology from the period to concentrate on this aspect, to present articles topically, and to deal with all points of view. The new introduction by the editor reviews contemporary uses of marijuana and discusses how attitudes about it have changes. Marijuana is a fascinating and informative book for everyone, and it is a particularly valuable addition to courses in introductory sociology, social problems, social deviance, disorganization, social pathology, and criminology.

"Marijuana" seeks to bring to the reader the whole configuration of this problem, which, like the Sexual Revolution and the New Politics, was at the heart of the alienation felt by many young people during the second half of the 1960s and the fears of social breakdown voiced by many of their elders.

The book, first published in 1969, describes the history of marijuana use, how the drug was distributed in this country, the extent and patterns of its use by students and other groups, its possible connection with crime and drug addiction, and the widely differing arguments of its foes and supporters. It is replete with first-hand accounts by people who smoked and sold marijuana, as well as by those who studied the phenomenon from socio logical, psychiatric, legal, educational, and other viewpoints.

Much of the work published on marijuana has dealt with its chemical, medical, pharmacological, and agricultural aspects. While these approaches are necessarily touched upon here, the focus of this still timely volume is sociological; it is the only anthology from the period to concentrate on this aspect, to present articles topically, and to deal with all points of view. The new introduction by the editor reviews contemporary uses of marijuana and discusses how attitudes about it have changes. "Marijuana" is a fascinating and informative book for everyone, and it is a particularly valuable addition to courses in introductory sociology, social problems, social deviance, disorganization, social pathology, and criminology.

The surprising and unofficial system of social control and regulation that keeps crime rates low in New York City's Washington Square Park Located in New York City's Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park that is perhaps best known for its historic Washington Square Arch, a landmark at the foot of 5th Avenue. Hundreds, if not thousands, pass through the park every day, some sit on benches enjoying the sunshine, play a game of chess, watch their children play in the playground, take their dog to the dog runs, or sit by the fountain or, sometimes, buy or sell drugs. The park has an extremely low crime rate. Sociologist, and local resident, Erich Goode wants to know why. He notes that many visitors do violate park rules and ordinances, even engaging in misdemeanors like cigarette and marijuana smoking, alcohol consumption, public urination, skateboarding and bike riding. And yet, he argues, contrary to the well-known "broken windows" theory, which suggests that small crimes left unchecked lead to major crimes, serious crimes hardly ever take place there. Why with such an immense volume of infractions-and people-are there so little felonious or serious, and virtually no violent, crime? With rich and detailed observations as well as in-depth interviews, Goode demonstrates how onlookers, bystanders, and witnesses-both denizens and your average casual park visitor-provide an effective system of social control, keeping more serious wrongdoing in check. Goode also profiles the parks visitors, showing us that the park is a major draw to residents and tourists alike. Visitors come from all over; only a quarter of the park's visitors live in the neighborhood (the Village and SoHo), one out of ten are tourists, and one out of six are from upper Manhattan or the Bronx. Goode looks at the patterns of who visits the park, when they come, and, once in the park, where they go. Regardless of where they live, Goode argues, all of the Park's visitors help keep the park safe and lively. The Taming of New York's Washington Square is an engaging and entertaining look at a surprisingly safe space in the heart of Manhattan.

The surprising and unofficial system of social control and regulation that keeps crime rates low in New York City's Washington Square Park Located in New York City's Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park that is perhaps best known for its historic Washington Square Arch, a landmark at the foot of 5th Avenue. Hundreds, if not thousands, pass through the park every day, some sit on benches enjoying the sunshine, play a game of chess, watch their children play in the playground, take their dog to the dog runs, or sit by the fountain or, sometimes, buy or sell drugs. The park has an extremely low crime rate. Sociologist, and local resident, Erich Goode wants to know why. He notes that many visitors do violate park rules and ordinances, even engaging in misdemeanors like cigarette and marijuana smoking, alcohol consumption, public urination, skateboarding and bike riding. And yet, he argues, contrary to the well-known "broken windows" theory, which suggests that small crimes left unchecked lead to major crimes, serious crimes hardly ever take place there. Why with such an immense volume of infractions-and people-are there so little felonious or serious, and virtually no violent, crime? With rich and detailed observations as well as in-depth interviews, Goode demonstrates how onlookers, bystanders, and witnesses-both denizens and your average casual park visitor-provide an effective system of social control, keeping more serious wrongdoing in check. Goode also profiles the parks visitors, showing us that the park is a major draw to residents and tourists alike. Visitors come from all over; only a quarter of the park's visitors live in the neighborhood (the Village and SoHo), one out of ten are tourists, and one out of six are from upper Manhattan or the Bronx. Goode looks at the patterns of who visits the park, when they come, and, once in the park, where they go. Regardless of where they live, Goode argues, all of the Park's visitors help keep the park safe and lively. The Taming of New York's Washington Square is an engaging and entertaining look at a surprisingly safe space in the heart of Manhattan.

Most primary deviation is of transitory significance and involves a fairly insignificant punishment. Extreme Deviance focuses on behavior, beliefs, and traits that are so serious as to generate, in the words of Edwin Lemert, secondary deviation. Editors Erich Goode and D. Angus Vail tunnel to the core of the subject by emphasizing a set of central lessons, offering edgy, pedagogically dramatic illustrations of principles that are contained in no other collection of readings. The book is complete with vocabularies of motive, deviance neutralization, the acquisition of a deviant identity, and the formation of a deviance subculture. Key Features Exemplifies the concept of deviance to the fullest extent, from primary to secondary deviation: By focusing on extreme deviance, this book explores the full range of the consequence of normative violations. Presents vivid examples: Examples are dramatic, difficult to forget, and manifest from the normative violation through condemnation to the creation of deviance stereotyping, social isolation, and stigmatization. Offers an engaging text-reader format: Each chapter begins with a detailed introduction written by the editors followed by two selections written by sociological experts in the field and one personal account. Intended Audience This book is designed for undergraduate courses such as Sociology of Deviant Behavior, Deviant Behavior, and Social Deviance in the department of sociology. Contributor to the SAGE Teaching Innovations and Professional Development Award