Effects Of Labelling Flashcards
1
Q
Labelling theory
A
- it draws attention to the consequences of labelling and stereotyping people as ‘criminals’
2
Q
EDWIN LEMERT
A
- he said that labelling certain people as deviant, society encourages them to become more
3
Q
Primary deviance
A
- these are acts that haven’t been publicly labelled
- people who commit them don’t see themselves as deviant neither does society
- they’re often in sight and trivial
4
Q
Secondary deviance
A
- these happen because of society reaction (labelling)
- labelling stigmatise and exclude the person from normal society
- others see the offender solely on their label which leads to master status
5
Q
Evaluation of primary and secondary deviance
A
+ shows defining deviance is a complex process
+ definitions of deviant is relative
+ highlights importance of studying societal reaction to crime and deviance
- fails to explain why some people commit primary deviance in the first place before they’re labelled
6
Q
Self fulfilling prophecy
A
- LEMERT: labelling a person as deviant/criminal results in prejudice and discrimination
- makes it hard for deviant to adopt normal behaviour
- being labelled provoke self concept to SFP where they conform to label which leads to secondary deviance
- BECKER: deviant forced to seek company of hide similarly labelled and become part of a deviant subculture
7
Q
JOCK YOUNG: Role of police
A
- his study of Marijuana users in Notting Hill shows involvement of police
- drug use initially peripheral to hippies (primary deviance) but police sees them as junkies (social reaction) leading them to retreat into deviant subculture where drug use is the central activity (SFP)
8
Q
Evaluation of role of the police
A
+ shows society’s attempts to control deviance can backfire and create more deviance
- labelling theory ok deterministic: assumes once labelled a SFP is inevitable and ignores thy people are free to choose not to deviate or not
- labelling theory doesn’t explain why people offence in the first place
9
Q
Deviancy amplification
A
- this attempts to control deviance/crime to an increase in the level of deviance
- WILKINS: people and certain acts are defined as deviance, then they’re stigmatised and cut off from society
- deviant groups react by being more secretive which leads to greater attempts to control groups activities
10
Q
Labelling theorists: most deviance is caused by agencies of social control
A
- it causes deviance because how they react to it
- E.G. YOUNG’s study of Marijuana users
11
Q
COHEN’s study of mods and rockers used concept of deviance amplification spiral
A
- media exaggerated and distorted the groups which began a moral panic
- moral entrepreneurs called for a crack down
- police responded by arresting more youths provoking concern
- demonising mods and rockers as folk devils separated them further resulting in more deviance
