Labelling theory and crime

• 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