Associate Instructional Professor

Education

Ph.D., Sociology, University of Arizona
M.S., Sociology, University of Arizona
J.D., The Ohio State University College of Law
B.A., Psychology, University of Chicago

Biography

Steven M. Nelson is an associate instructional professor in the department of sociology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 2007 and his J.D. from The Ohio State University in 1995. He has taught numerous sociology courses at Clemson University, Miami University and Creighton University.

He has made teaching a focus of his career and teaches courses in the areas of criminology, deviance, criminal justice, law and society, social psychology and general sociology.

His research has focused in the social psychology of crime and deviance, particularly the means by which culturally-derived meanings, language and identities facilitate or prevent socially problematic behavior. He uses quantitative and qualitative methods and has made contributions in the area of affect control theory.

Research Interests

• Deviance
• Social Psychology
• Criminology

Publications

• Nelson, Steven M. 2006. “Redefining a Bizarre Situation: Relative Concept Stability in Affect Control Theory.” Social Psychology Quarterly 69:215–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250606900301/

Teaching

• Criminology
• Deviance
• Sociology in a Global Context
• Introduction to Sociology
• Systems of Justice
• Self and Society (Social Psychology)
• Law and Society
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Gender Identities, Interactions and Relationships
• Group Processes
• Research Design