Labelling theory and crime

    Cards (12)

    • Becker
      Crime is the product of social reaction
    • Lemert
      Primary and secondary deviance. Should ignore primary and focus on secondary
    • Master status
      An individuals main label/status (criminal, murderer) takes over their identity of being a son, daughter, wife, husband etc.
    • Deviant career

      Failed at getting a job so they turn to a deviant career.
    • Self-fulfilling prophecy
      Living up to the label that's been applied
    • Young
      Deviancy amplification - the attempt at controlling deviant acts, only made it worse
      Hippies and marijuana
    • Cohen
      Moral panic/Mods and rockers - The media amplified the severity of the situation, making it seem like it was worse than what it actually was
    • Cicourel
      The ruling class are able to negotiate their way out of situations leaving working class acts to be defined as criminal
    • Goffman
      Studied effects of patients being admitted to mental institutions. They are 'dumping grounds' killing off their identity
    • Jones
      Two policy implications:
      • Decriminalise crime
      • Avoid giving individuals a criminal self-concept
    • Taylor, Walton and Young
      Labelling theory and interactionism ignore social strcuture and power
    • Downes and Rock
      Labelling theory is more relevant in education