On the Sociology of Deviant Behavior

The following compendium consists of seven chapters. All of these statements focus upon the theoretical developments and controversies associated with the theory of crime and/or deviance that developed in the United States in the mid-to-late twentieth century. The theories and controversies remain salient in the sociological analysis of deviance, crime, and delinquency to this day. The authors hope and believe that this compilation will be valuable to professors and students of upper-level undergraduate courses and those pursuing advanced sociological degrees and careers in sociology, as well as providing a sharper understanding of the comparative analysis of sociological theory. Their aim is to reveal that, at each stage of the development of sociological understanding and knowledge, theory matters.