interactionist theories of crime

    Cards (9)

    • Becker - labelling theory
      points out that people react differently to the same act depending on the social context and this influences the label that is placed on the act
    • Becker - our self concept
      how we see ourselves
      becker argued that this is created by recognising how others see us : being aware of how we are labelled
    • effects of being labelled as deviant - Becker
      being labelled as deviant can lead to deviance amplification because this label can become our master status
    • who spoke about folk devils and moral panics ?
      Cohen (1972)
    • Cohen - moral panic and folk devils
      researched the fights that took place in mainly English seaside towns between the two youth subcultures : the mods and rockers
    • folk devils
      cohen argued that when the media reports on deviant behaviour they construct a clear villain : the folk devil
      the creation of folk devils can kickstart moral panics
    • moral panics
      any over the top reaction to an issue that appears to relate to right or wrong
    • result of the moral panics
      the minor conflict between the two subcultures meant that the media created a larger story that exaggerated what happened
      the reaction meant that police responded to future conflict more forcefully
    • evaluation of the interactionist approach
      realists question whether these theories are any use to policymakers
      Becker's argument can be seen as abstract - crime isn't just a label
      similar to classical marxism interactionists cast the criminals as victims of labelling by society rather than help the real victims
    See similar decks