This text investigates the sociological mechanisms that define, label, and respond to social deviance within contemporary society. Charles S. Suchar, a scholar in the field of sociology, utilizes a symbolic interactionist framework to examine how social norms are constructed and enforced. The book synthesizes various theoretical perspectives to explain why certain behaviors are categorized as deviant while others are normalized.

Experts recognize this work as a standard academic introduction to the sociological study of deviance. Readers frequently note the clarity of the theoretical explanations, making it a common resource for undergraduate sociology curricula.