This text examines the bizarre and the everyday behaviours that some sociologists have labelled ‘deviance'. It outlines the history of sociological thought on deviance and engages with the debate about the ‘death of deviance'. The authors argue it is more useful to talk about rules and rule-breakers than deviance, and relate these ideas to our professional lives, where the idea of deviance continues to be important.

Key issues examined

• Drugs
• Bodies
• Sexuality, including paedophilia and female sexual dysfunction
• Sanity and madness
• Law, justice and the prison system
• Terrorism, state crime and cyber-crime
• Feminism and post-modernism
• Theories of deviance from outside and within sociology

Designed to aid learning

By using topical examples of deviance and social control that students will recognise and connect with, the authors ensure students will engage with the theoretical concepts. Case studies and student exercises enable students to reflect further on their understandings.

1. Summary and Outline
2. Theories of Deviance Outside Sociology
3. Kinds of Society Theories
4. Kinds of Rules Stories: Labelling and Political Economy Theories of Deviance
5. Feminism, Foucault, Postmodernism: Struggle over Rules
6. The ‘Death' of Deviance?
7. Law and Deviance
8. Prisons
9. Bodies and Rules
10. Minds and Rules: Sanity and Madness
11. Rules about Drugs
12. Rules about Sex
13. Terrorism Glossary Bibliography Index

Helen Marshall – Senior Lecturer in the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University.

Kathy Douglas – Lecturer, School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University.

Desmond McDonnell – Senior Lecturer, School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT University.