This collection investigates the sociological mechanisms that define, categorize, and respond to human behaviors labeled as deviant. Frank R. Scarpitti and Paul T. McFarlane compile a series of academic studies that examine the spectrum of deviance, ranging from behaviors that violate social norms to those that exceed them in positive ways. The authors utilize a framework rooted in interactionist theory to analyze how societal reactions shape the identity and trajectory of individuals labeled as deviant.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of social norms and the sociology of deviance. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for students and researchers in the field of criminology.