Beckers Theory - Labelling Theory Flashcards
1
Q
What is becker’s view on the nature of deviance?
A
- in low-income neighbourhoods perhaps viewed as delinquents
- in wealthy neighbourhoods - youthful spirts
- acts are the same = but the way people interpret it is different
2
Q
What are moral entrepreneurs?
A
- Becker argues that these ‘moral entrepreneurs’ decide what we consider to be crime an deviance - ‘ agents of social control ‘
- use their influence to decide what behaviour are seen as wrong or unacceptable
3
Q
What are the possible effects of labelling?
A
- beckers examined the effects labelling
- a label can lead to becoming someone’s master status = it become their social status that overwhelms all other status
- being labelled - self - fulfilling prophecy = individual master status
4
Q
What is the deviance amplification spiral?
A
- negative label = primary deviance and secondary deviance ( societal reaction )
- self- concept = identity crisis = self - fulfilling prophecies
- label reinforced = begin to live up to label = committing more secondary deviance
- master status = people only see that person as the label
- deviant career = more hostile reactions from society = more deviance
5
Q
A02 for beckers theory?
A
- young’s: hippie marijunana users
- negative label : the police has a media derived stereotype of hippie drug users as junkies . They became know as ‘folk devils’
- self - concept : hippies retreat into subcultures united around smoking marijuana
- label reinforced: treated as outsiders, express this through different clothes = ‘drug subculture develops ‘
- master status: opportunities for normality reduced because of labelling + police
- deviant career: the charge may close off opportunities in normal life
6
Q
Strengths for becker’s theory?
A
- shows that its not the act itself, but the societal reaction to it that creates serious deviance
7
Q
Weaknesses for becker’s theory?
A
- not necessarily as people are free and choose to do what they want/not to deviate further ( Downey’s and rock )
