Interactionism - Becker’s Labelling Theory

• Labelling Theory


  It is not the nature of the act that makes it deviant, but the nature of society's reaction to the act
• Labelling theory states that no act is deviant or criminal in itself. It only becomes so when we create rules and apply them.
• There is differential enforcement of the law against one group than another.
• Differential enforcement of the law


  • Studies have found that police's decisions to arrest were based on stereotypical ideas about a person's manner, dress, gender, class and ethnicity, and the time and place
  • Young males stopped late at night in high-crime areas were more likely to be arrested
• As a result of labelling

  The offender may be rejected by society and forced into the company of other criminals, joining a deviant subculture
• The person has now become what the label said they were - self fulfilling prophecy


  Further offending is more likely
• Labelling


  Cause of crime
• Society labels certain people as deviant


  It encourages them to become more so
• Criminal stereotypes


  The label has changed how she sees herself and how others see her
• The label has changed how she sees herself and how others see her


  She resorts to criminal activity to support her habit
• Master status


  The main thing that people see when they meet a person, and can be the main aspect of the way someone lives their life
• Criminals are more likely to reoffend when they are given a negative label
• Society is the CAUSE of crime, not the criminal
• To some extent society can have an impact, however the criminal should get the blame for the crime and not society
• Being criminal has nothing to do with the structure of society eg. social class
• Social class plays a huge note for crime to occur. Therefore, crime can be directly related to social class