Evaluating Interactionism

Question 1

‘typical criminal’

Answer 1

interactionism provides a challenge to the accepted picture of the typical criminal

argues that the simplistic division between deviants and non-deviants is unrealistic because everyone can deviate at times

Question 2

labelling

Answer 2

interactionism fails to explain reasons for the original deviant action before labelling even takes place

majority of people may commit deviant acts which are never labelled

Question 3

deterministic

Answer 3

it assumes that individuals passively live up to their label and this is wrong as some may fight to prove their label wrong

it thus doesn’t account for he/she’s motives e.g. status/money

Question 4

micro approach

Answer 4

interactionism fails to consider power structures in society due to being a micro approach

interactionists only consider power in regards to a label

marxists argue that not enough attention is given to the social structure which provides this power