Extraordinary behavior : a case study approach to understanding social problems / edited by Dennis L. Peck and Norman A. Dolch.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Peck, Dennis L.

Dolch, Norman A. (Norman Allan)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social problems--United States--Case studies.

Social problems.

United States--Social conditions--1980-.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (284 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This unique collection of case studies introduces readers to many of the common yet extraordinary social problems in contemporary American society. Employing a symbolic interaction approach to the case studies, the authors identify the origins of the problems, define the issues, and explore the outcomes and potential remedies. The case studies themselves introduce readers to the very personal side of the problems as the emotions, actions, and perceptions of the subjects are revealed and analyzed. The problems studied here are organized into three categories- health-related issues, family issues, and behavior beyond the boundaries-and include many problems that often receive too little attention in the existing literature, making this book an original and timely contribution. Each of the three sections is preceded by a general review of the chapters to follow and offers readers a prelude to the exploration of human thought, language, and behavior captured and illustrated in the case studies. In the first section of the book, problems covered include suicide, anorexia nervosa, alcohol and drug abuse, and AIDS/STDs. The second section covers teenage mothers, domestic violence, divorce and poverty, child support and deadbeat dads, and homelessness. The last section focuses on sexual harassment, equal protection and racial exclusion, prostitution, career criminals, mass murder, and serial killers. This book represents a fresh new approach and a welcome addition to the study of social problems in America today.

Contents:

Cover

EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOR

Contents

Introduction

PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOOK

The Symbolic Interaction Perspective

The Case Study Method

Health-Related Issues

Family Issues

Behavior Beyond the Boundaries

REFERENCES

PART I HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES

NOTE

1 Suicide

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW OF THE SUICIDE PROBLEM

Theoretical Issues and Explanations

Suicide Notes

NANCY: A CASE STUDY

A SUICIDE DIARY

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

2 Anorexia Nervosa

OVERVIEW OF THE ANOREXIA NERVOSA PROBLEM

SARAH: A CASE STUDY OF AN ANOREXIC

The Early Years

Adolescence

Young Adulthood

Life after Anorexia Nervosa

3 Alcohol/Drug Abuse

OVERVIEW OF THE ALCOHOL USE PROBLEM

Other Drugs

Dynamic Processes Leading to Alcohol and Drug Using Behavior

JIM: A CASE STUDY

JUDY: A CASE STUDY OF MARIJUANA USE

DAVID: A CASE OF MULTIPLE-DRUG USE

JOHN: A CASE STUDY OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE

4 AIDS

OVERVIEW OF THE AIDS RESEARCH FUNDING PROBLEM

The Rise of Community-based AIDS Research

The Community Research Initiative Model

The County Community Consortium Model

Community Clinicians Take Action

PART II FAMILY ISSUES

5 Teenage Mothers

OVERVIEW OF THE TEENAGE MOTHER PROBLEM

THE CASE STUDIES

Mary: A Case Study of Low Self-Esteem

Tina: A Case Study of a Pregnant Teenager

Jamie: A Case Study of a Married Parent

6 Spousal Abuse/Domestic Violence

OVERVIEW OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM

Domestic Violence: A Contemporary Social Problem.

Underlying Causes of Battering

Why Do They Stay?

GINA AND DAN: A CASE STUDY

SUSAN AND LYLE: A CASE STUDY

7 Divorce and Poverty

OVERVIEW OF THE DIVORCE PROBLEM

Causes of Divorce

OVERVIEW OF THE POVERTY PROBLEM

Correlates of Poverty

THE PROBLEMS OF DIVORCE AND POVERTY

JENNIFER: A CASE STUDY

The Presentation of Self

Public Assistance

Economic Consequences of Divorce

ROSE: A CASE STUDY

Nonverbal Communication: Couple Identity

MARCOS: A CASE STUDY

NOTES

8 Child Support/Deadbeat Dads

OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM OF DEADBEAT DADS

CARLOS: A CASE STUDY

A Regressive System of Child Support

New Family Formation

Deadbeat Dads

9 Homelessness

OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM: HOMELESSNESS IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

SISSY: A CASE STUDY

How Did You Get Here?

What Is It Like to Be Homeless?

What Does the Future Hold?

PART III BEHAVIOR BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES

10 Sexual Harassment

The Problem of Defining Sexual Harassment

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment

Consensual Relationships

OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM: INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE AND ACADEMIA

LISA: A CASE STUDY

11 Equal Protection and Racial Exclusion

OVERVIEW OF THE JURY SELECTION PROBLEM

Implementation of Batson

J. L. NEAL: A CRIMINAL CASE STUDY

Striking of the Criminal Jury

LILLIAN OLSEN: A CIVIL CASE STUDY

CASES CITED

12 Male Prostitution

INTRODUCTION.

OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEM: MALE PROSTITUTION

MALE PROSTITUTION: A CASE STUDY

Perception of Other Hustlers' Sexuality

Hustlers' Perceptions of Tricks

Identity Management

Covering and Passing

Sexual Limitations

Covering with Significant Others

Becoming Involved in Hustling

Self Attitudes toward Homosexuality

13 Career Criminals

OVERVIEW OF THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROBLEM

Theoretical Explanations

CAREER CRIMINALS: A CASE STUDY

The Police

The Courts

The Prison

14 Mass Murder

OVERVIEW OF THE MASS MURDER PROBLEM

CONSTRUCTING MASS MURDER: A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

Examining the Stereotype

15 Serial Killers

Defining Serial Murder

Types of Serial Killers

JOHN WAYNE GACY: A CASE STUDY

Gacy's Early Background

Employment History

Sexual Background

The Serial Murders

Index

About the Editors and Contributors.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798400649240

9780313002991

0313002991

OCLC:

55149769