Deviance,Crime,and the Greying of America

This essay offers some conjectures about the nature and forms of deviance and criminality that are likely to be encountered in the decades ahead, as the “greying” of America continues. Traditional notions centered about the study of societal forms of deviance have become obsolete. Moreover, behavioral diversity of many forms has become so commonplace in recent years that social labeling or processual conceptions of deviance are in need of revision. Some evidence of the spread of social diversity is offered, along with some commentary on the broad forces behind the growth of diversity. The concluding portion of this essay includes a number of forecasts about the levels and forms of criminality that may be encountered in the decades ahead.