Alex Thio's best-selling book covers a wide spectrum of theories of deviance, and analyzes specific deviant behaviors. The author utilizes an abundance of research data, including much that debunks our common assumptions about deviant behavior. Thus readers are not only exposed to the full range of theories and data about deviance, but are challenged to think about and evaluate their own biases and preconceptions.

The seventh edition features significant new coverage of current topics, including: recent developments in anomie-strain theory (Chapter 2), stalking, hate-motivated violence, genocide, the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the war on terrorism (Chapter 4), male rape inside and outside the prison, and pedophile priests (Chapter 5), the illegal drug Ecstasy, and the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly OxyContin (Chapter 11).