Encyclopedia of Social Deviance

Social deviance-any behavior that violates a cultural norm-can involve something as major as crime or as minor as consistently and deliberately wearing lively mismatched socks. Whether a crime, a sin, or simply unique taste, what's considered deviant at one time and place can change, as when extensive tattooing and body art evolved from a sideshow carnival spectacle to a nearly universal rite of passage within U.S. culture.Key Features of this Encyclopedia include: More than 300 articles authored by key figures in the field are organized A-to-Z in two volumes. Each article concludes with cross-references to related entries and further readings. A thematic Reader's Guide groups related articles by broad areas (e.g., Concepts; Theories; Research Methodologies; Individual Deviance; Organizational Deviance; etc.) as one handy search feature on the e-Reference platform, which also includes a comprehensive index of search terms. Available in both electronic and print formats, this two-volume, A-to-Z encyclopedia set is a must-have resource for students and researchers who seek to understand social deviance.