Interactionalism/ Labelling Theory Flashcards
What is the main idea of the social construction of deviance?
Deviance is a social construction, not based on the act itself.
According to Becker, who creates deviance?
Powerful social groups create deviance by creating rules and labeling certain individuals as ‘outsiders’.
Complete the phrase: ‘Deviance is in the eye of the _______.’
beholder
highlights that deviance is determined by societal perception and labeling.
What are moral entrepreneurs?
People who lead a moral ‘crusade’ to change the law to label certain behaviours as ‘deviant’.
What are the two effects of new laws created by moral entrepreneurs?
- Creation of a new group of ‘outsiders’: deviants who break new rules.
- Expansion of social control agencies: police, courts, officers to enforce the rule.
What does differential enforcement refer to?
Not everyone who commits an offence is punished; labeling depends on various social factors. Agencies of social control tend to label these groups as criminals.
Which groups do labelling theorists argue are often labeled as criminal?
- Black/brown individuals
- Young males
What did Pilliavin and Briar find regarding police arrest decisions?
based on stereotypical ideas about manner, dress, gender, class, and ethnicity.
How much more likely are young black males to be stopped and searched compared to white males?
7x
What is a criticism of labelling theory from Marxists?
It fails to locate the origin of labels in the structure of capitalism, labelling theory ignores broader economic and social structures.
What is a consequence of labelling theory regarding the perception of criminals?
It gives criminals a victim status, suggesting they are judged as typical criminals.
This perspective may overlook the experiences of actual crime victims.
What are typifications according to Cicourel?
Typifications are stereotypes of the ‘typical deviant’ used by police.
How do typifications affect the likelihood of arrest?
Individuals fitting typifications are more likely to be stopped, arrested, and charged.
Which groups are more likely to be arrested according to Cicourel?
Working class and ethnic minority juveniles.
What factors contribute to harsher treatment of certain groups by police?
Being from broken homes- more likely to be seen as dangerous so need more serious punishments.
How do middle class juveniles differ in their treatment by police?
Middle class juveniles are less likely to fit the typification and have parents who can negotiate justice.
What role does cultural capital play for middle class parents?
Cultural capital allows them to persuade police that their children are not serious repeat offenders.
What is a criticism of interactionism in the context of social policy?
Interactionism lacks any practical social policy focus. Left realists put forward realistic solutions to try and reduce crime.
What do left realists propose to address crime?
Realistic solutions to reduce crime, especially in inner-city areas.
What does Cicourel suggest about the use of statistics?
Statistics should not be used as a source of facts because they are products of differential enforcement.
What is primary deviance?
Deviant acts that have not been publicly labelled and often go uncaught.
Examples of primary deviance.
- Fare dodging
- Shoplifting
- Driving 32 mph in a 30 mph zone.
How do offenders perceive primary deviance?
They can easily rationalise it away as a ‘moment of madness’.
What is secondary deviance?
Deviance that occurs after an individual has been publicly caught and labelled.
What does Lemert argue about labelling and criminal activity?
Public labelling causes a person to increase their criminal activity.
What is a major criticism of labelling theory?
It is deterministic and ignores an individual’s free will to reject the label.
What is the effect of societal reaction on deviance according to Lemert?
It encourages individuals to commit more crime and deviance.
What is a limitation of labelling theory in explaining deviance?
It fails to explain why individuals commit primary deviance before being labelled. unlike the ‘strain theory’
What is secondary deviance?
Secondary deviance results from societal reaction:
labelling someone as an offender, leading to stigma and exclusion from normal society.
What is a master status in the context of labeling?
A master status is a label that becomes a controlling identity, such as ‘criminal’, overshadowing other identities like colleague or father.
How can labelling provoke a crisis for an individual’s self-concept?
Being labelled can lead individuals to question their identity and self-worth.
This crisis may push them to accept the deviant label.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to deviance?
A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when an individual accepts their status as criminal and commits more crime. This acceptance reinforces their deviant identity.
What might happen after an individual is labeled as deviant?
reinforces outsider status and lead to joining a deviant subculture: provides support, and opportunities for a deviant career.
What case study did Jock Young conduct regarding labeling?
hippy marijuana smokers showed how societal reaction led to secondary deviance.
Drug use became central to their lifestyle (SFP) after police labeled them as junkies.
What is the Deviance Amplification Spiral?
where attempts to control deviance lead to its increase rather than decrease, creating an escalating cycle e.g. Young’s study of the hippies.
What do Right Realists argue regarding the labelling of criminals? (Ao3)
it is not the criminal accepting a label that causes more crime, but rather poor socialization.
How do Functionalists view the relationship between deviance and social control? (Ao3)
Functionalists see deviance as producing social control.
Fill in the blank: The label of a ‘criminal’ can lead to being seen solely as a _______.
outsider.
What concept does Cohen’s study of mods and rockers utilise?
Deviance amplification spiral
-how media exaggeration can escalate public concern and deviance.
What was the outcome of media exaggeration and distortion in Cohen’s study?
It began a moral panic
This moral panic was characterized by increased public concern and calls for police action.
What did moral entrepreneurs call for in response to the panic?
A crackdown
This involved law enforcement taking more aggressive actions against perceived deviance.
What was the effect of police responding by arresting more youths?
It provoked more concern:
This cycle increased moral panic and created more societal anxiety.
How were mods and rockers depicted in the media?
As ‘folk devils’
This demonization further marginalized these groups and led to increased deviance.
Fill in the blank: Cohen’s study illustrates the _______ amplification spiral.
Devience
True or False: The media’s portrayal of mods and rockers had no impact on public perception.
False
The media’s portrayal significantly influenced public perception, leading to increased moral panic.
