Author Description

Product Description Constructionist theory describes and analyzes social problems as emerging through the efforts of claimsmakers who bring issues to public attention. These claims inevitably typify the problem, characterizing it as a problem of a particular sort. In turn, such typifications shape the ways in which policymakers and the public respond to the claims. Like the widely adopted first edition, this new edition of Images of Issues explores the nature of typification and its consequences.The second edition is addressed to claimsmaking in the 1990s. It features ten all-new chapters on such current issues as fathers' rights, stalking, sexual abuse by the clergy, hate crimes, multicultural education, and factory farming. Most of the chapters that appeared in the first edition have been substantially revised and updated, including the afterword, which contains an expanded discussion of the theoretical debate over constructionism. The chapters are organized around important themes: the nature of claims; the roles of claimsmakers; connections among claimsmaking campaigns; and the impact of claims on social policy. Review “A collection of articles about a wide range of contemporary social problems all very much in current public discussion: spousal, elder, and child abuse; AIDS; dyslexia and other learning disabilities; concern about infertility; substance abuse; concern about rock lyrics; and the supposed threat of illegal immigration… The articles are all competent, well written, and adequately documented… [T]he authors cast light on an interesting collection of social problems, in a style that is constantly readable and frequently interesting. Readers at all levels.”—S. M. Soiffer, Choice About the Author Joel E. Best is professor at the department of sociology and criminal justice, University of Delaware. He is the author of numerous books, including Flavor of the Month: Why Smart People Fall for Fads; Deviance: Career of a Concept; and Random Violence: How We Talk about New Crimes and New Victims.