Interactionism Flashcards
What is labelling theory?
Labelling theorists argue that no act is inherently criminal or deviant,it becomes so when labelled as such
What is Howard Becker’s theory on deviance?
A deviant is someone who the label of deviance has been successfully applied to
What are moral entrepreneurs? (Becker)
Individuals who lead a moral crusade to change the law
Creates a group of outsiders,expands social control agencies to enforce laws
What are some evaluations for Becker’s theory?
+-recognises the role of power in creating deviance
X-fails to analyse the source of power,it’s connection to capitalism
X-too theoretical about deviance ignores the harm caused to victims
How do power and deviance coincide?(Becker)
It’s not inherent harmfulness that leads to new laws but efforts of powerful people to redefine behaviour as unacceptable
What is a Marxist critique of Becker?
Doesn’t explore the links between labelling and capitalism
What’s a realist critique of interactionism
Sociologists should focus more on preventing crimes
What are the factors in arrest and conviction? (Cicourel)
Convictions depend on interactions with social control agencies,appearance,background,and circumstance of the offence
What were cicourel’s findings?
Officers decisions to arrest are influenced by their stereotypes about offenders
-leads to a class bias in law enforcement
-officers concentrate on ‘typical delinquents’ results in more arrests,confirming stereotypes
How are bias’ reinforced? (Cicourel)
Agents of social control I.e probation officers,reinforce bias
-see delinquency as linked to factors e.g broken homes,poverty,and lax parenting
Why does Cicourel believe that Justice is Negotiable?
-middle class youths are less likely to be charged due to background/parents ability to negotiate
What is Cicourels view on official statistics
Official crime statistics don’t provide a valid picture of crime patterns
-reflect control agencies more than criminal behaviours
How did Cicourel conduct research?
-Used participant and non-participant observation
-observed police patrols and court proceedings
What are evaluations of Cicourel’s work?
+-explains how crime statistics are collected and it’s limits
X-May give offenders a form of victim status overlooks the real victims
How are Ethnic Minority communities policed? (Phillips&bowling?
-since 1970s there’s been allegations of oppressive policing
-in minority ethnic areas
-e.g mass stop and search,surveillance,police violence
What are the problems with stop and search? (Phillips&Bowling
-racial despair tied EM more likely to be stopped ‘Reasonable suspicion’
-perceived over policing
How do stereotypes affect prosecution of EM communities? Phillips and Bowling
-CPS is more likely to drop cases against EMs due to weaker evidence/stereotypes
What are the effects of pre-sentencing reports? Phillips and Bowling
-labelling by probation officers:Hudson and bramwell found Asian offenders labelled as less remorseful than white offenders
-context bias e.g Muslims after 9-11
What are some evaluations for Phillip and Bowling?
-Evidence of institutional racism
-canteen culture of racist sexist homophobic attitudes
-Macpherson report
What is primary deviance? Lemert
-deviant acts that haven’t been public ally labelled or recognised
-trivial and uncaught,individuals that engage don’t see themselves as deviant
What is secondary deviance? Lemert?
-the result of societal reactions,labelling,to deviant behaviour
What are the effects of labelling? Lemert
-being publicly labelled can lead to stigmatisation,shame,social exclusion
-identity crisis
What is a self fulfilling prophecy?Lemert
-occurs when an individual conforms to and fulfils expectations of their label
What is the role of deviant subcultures? Lemert
-response to labelling and exclusion,individuals may seek support from deviant subcultures
-May offer deviant careers,role models
What are Lemerts key idea?
Not the deviant act but rather hostile societal reaction that creates serious deviance
-social control process may lead to deviance ironically
What are some evaluations of Lemert?
X-too deterministic implies that once someone is labelled deviance is inevitable
+-some labelling theorists recognise not all deviance is inevitable after labelling
X-assumes people are unaware of their deviance until labelled
What is deviance amplification? Young
Negative reactions and responses from others outside a labelled group lead individuals to become more deviant
What did Jock Young study?
How the hippie subculture became labelled as deviant
-marijuana use,prosecution,retreating to closed groups
What are some evaluations for young?
-deterministic assumes deviance is inevitable after labelling
-overlooks possibility of deviance being a choice,postmodern criticism
How can labelling lead to a deviant career?De Haan
-negative labels can push offenders towards deviant careers,links to Lemert
-to reduce deviance,less rules should be created an enforced
What is the impact of increased control and punishment? De Haan
Triplett-USA there’s an increasing tendency to see young offenders as evil,less tolerance
De Haan-stigma of young offenders in Holland
What is De Haan’s solution?
Decriminalisation of minor offences e.g soft drugs
Individuals are able to maintain access to mainstream society reduces likelihood of criminal association
What does De Haan mean by ‘label the act not the actor’
Instead of publicly calling out offenders focus on just labelling the act
-idea of reintegrative shaming allows individuals to separate their actions from identity
What are some evaluations for De Haan?
+-offer practical ways to control crime
X-right realists critique soft approach claim it may normalise offending
