Evaluations: Symbolic Interactionism and Labelling Flashcards
Tierney (2010)
traditional accounts can only explain secondary deviance, usually tell us who is likely to get caught and labelled and processed by CJS.
Origins of deviance?
Cannot explain the origins of primary deviance, focus is on explaining secondary deviance (after labelling has occurred)
Does not explain initial engagement in deviance
Deviant as passive?
Considers deviant as passive recipient of deviant labels - deterministic, does not emphasis why the individual chooses deviance (developed in new-Marxist theory eg Phil Cohen symbolic resistance)
Deviant as victim?
Criticism from the political right - perceives of deviant as victim; not given agency an thus not responsible, seen as victim of labelling processes
Inconsistency in considering deviance?
Notion of a secret deviant (Becker) suggests that unlabelled deviance is possible - internally contradictory
Also is some hard deviance (eg murder) not universally labelled? Some behaviors may be inherently deviant
Social structure and power differentials?
Though examines power differentials, does not explore origins of these structural differentials
Not radical enough for some theorists (contemporary Marxists especially - they adapt it eg Phil Cohen)