This book focuses primarily on social control - society's tendency to identify and control the behaviour of certain types of citizens - framed within a social constructionist perspective based on several assumptions. Firstly, the social construction approach argues that acceptable behavioural norms and appropriate penalties for violations of such norms are difficult to define, making the degree of consensus on what is 'normal' behaviour highly variable.

Secondly, we assume that what constitutes deviant behaviour changes over time and across social groups and societies. As a result, the social construction approach is informed largely by historical studies that track changing modes of social control. Thirdly, we assume that laws and norms are not necessarily unchangeable or correct or even shared by the majority.

1. This book is premised on the assumption that nothing is inherently deviant, but that what is regarded as deviant is the result of socio-historical context. We focus on five social categories - law, health, sexuality, race, and education - in which we discuss how definitions of unconventionality are formed and how they influence the control of certain categories of people.