Outsiders Free Audiobook Download

3 quotes from Outsiders

• "Deviance is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an 'offender.'"
• "The process of labeling individuals as deviant can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where the labeled individuals internalize these labels and adopt deviant behaviors."
• "Society constructs norms and classifications that define certain behaviors as deviant, and these categorizations are influenced by the power dynamics within the social structure."

Author: Howard S. Becker

Howard S. Becker is a distinguished American sociologist renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the study of deviance and social norms. Born in 1928, Becker's influential work spans multiple areas of sociology, including the sociology of art, music, and education. He is best known for his seminal book "Outsiders," published in 1963, which introduced the concept of labeling theory, emphasizing how society's definitions of deviance shape individual identities and experiences. Throughout his career, Becker has employed qualitative research methods, particularly ethnography, to explore the complex interplay between social categories and human behavior, making significant impacts on both theoretical frameworks and empirical studies in sociology. His innovative approaches have not only enriched academic discourse but have also provided vital insights into understanding the marginalized and stigmatized within society.