interactionism:labelling theory

• How do interactionists see official crime stats?

  See as social construction (invalid) and created by the police view on a stereotypical criminal
• What do interactionists believe?

  Most people commit crime at least once in their life, the only difference is criminals are caught and labelled affecting how they are treated
• What does lemert do?

  Distinguish between primary and secondary deviance
• What is primary deviance?

  Deviant acts a person commits

  They are not publically labelled and have little effect on identity and status in society, being able to life normally
• What is secondary deviance?

  Reaction of others to the deviant act

  The act is now publically labelled deviant and have an effect on identity and status
• What is an evaluation for lemert.

  Doesnt explain causes of deviant behaviour which comes before labelling
• What is a study of primary and secondary deviance?

  Chamblis - saints and roughnecks labelling by police
• What is an evaluation of saints and roughnecks?


  Doesnt explain why people commit crime in the first place, only looking at secondary deviance whereas merton does

  Doesnt explain why some choose different forms of deviant acts

  As adults some roughnecks rejected SFP
• What does Becker say?


  Suggests an act only becomes deviant when socital reaction see and defines it as - 'exists in the eye of the beholder'

  Therefore deviance is a social construct
• What does social construct mean?


  Behaviour defined and labelled by society
• What is an evaluation for becker eye of beholder

  He assumes an act isnt deviant until labelled however people know what they do is deviant or not

  Doesnt explain why there are different reactions to deviance
• What is becker moral entrepeneur?


  Believed moral entreupeneurs like police and media have the power to create deviant labels and make them stick as well has creating definitions of deviance.
• What is an example of moral entrepeneurs


  Media and police reaction to drill music, labelling it deviant and drill artists as folk devils - threat to society

  Moral entrepeneurs made performing these drill songs illegal due to reference of murder
• What is an evaluation of moral entrepeneurs?

  Becker points out issues of power in labelling but doesnt explain structure of power in society which creates a wider framework for labelling.

  Eg.Marxissts argue deviant labels are results of social class inequalities in capitalist society.
• What does cicourel say?

  Argues social context influences application of label and how the justice system respond to it. Police label 'typical delinquent' and the label mainly to working class even of middle class do the same, suggesting a 'negotiation of justice' due to the influence of stereotypes
• Evaluation of cicourel

  Sometimes negotiation of justice works against the rich.

  Millionare daughter drove looters around in london riots 2011 got a high sentence due to her privilaged background, suggesting how social context influences applying label and the usefullness in society