ABSTRACT
There are various definitions of deviance, and many people disagree on what constitutes deviant behavior. This chapter draws on Becker's definition of deviance, where deviance is that which people label, and deviants are those who have been successfully labeled as such. It discusses a body of literature relevant to deviant behavior, work and occupations, and the life course. The chapter then examines a cultural context that exhibits deviant behavior among adults. Developmental theories of deviance usually explain how people cease or moderate their criminal and deviant behavior as they become more integrated or reintegrated into other domains of social life, suggesting that desistance is a consequence of becoming an adult. Employee theft is considered a leading contributor to the estimated 35 percent of restaurant failures. The chapter presents a case study of adult restaurant employees' theft practices and discusses how and why they steal from their workplaces.
