Interactionism Flashcards
Interactionism
In contrast to marxist/functionlism labelling theory does no focus on the definition of crime but why acts are labelled as deviant or criminal. They argue that no act in inherently criminal it only becomes when labelled, not the nature of act but nature of societies reaction. Why are some acts deviant and some not? We are all deviant at times (EVEN YOU EXAMINER) the question is why are some groups criminalised and others not.
Official statistics
They reject official stats they see them as a social construction and lack validity. They underestimate the extent of crime. Not accurate because UUPM.
Why does some people get punished
If a person is arrested, charged and convicted it depends on factors such as the agents of social control, the appearance of the person and the situations of the offence.
Becker
States there is no such thing as a deviant act “deviant behaviour is is behaviour that people so label” Its not the act its society. So its relative.
Once a person is labelled
As devient it can easily become a master status of the individual. The person internalises societies reaction this is “self concept” It may increase the deviance because they feel shamed and rejected, this is self fulfilling prophecy. Criminal labelled are master statuses they are known as “exoffenders” (Goffman+mental illness)
Young
Used the study of drug use in notting hill and found that once labelled as a cannabis users and the self concept was internalised, their main identity was “hippie” this led to an increase of drug taking due to societies reaction.
Cicoural
Found the negation of justice, that police hold stereotypes about the “typical criminal” and these are used to interpreate the behaviour if closer to the stereotype then more likely to be arrested and charged. He found other agents of social control are similar.
Lemert
Looked at the process of labelling found primary which is the initial deviant act and secondary which is the act following the acceptance of the deviant label. Such as an alcoholic.
Public reaction can be very powerful its not uncommon for suspects of child pornography to commit suicide.
Goffman
Stated prison reinforces the SFP. He founded some terms such as the mortification process where the inmates are stripped of identity then the mortification experience they have a lack of freedom. Then some become institutionalised they can no longer function on the outside. Then decultralised they have to relearn the basics.
Cohen (Moral panics)
Found that the media created the crime throughout the exaggeration of misrepresentation of the facts. The media actually encouraged the deviant acts. The media is used by the ruling class too feed on insecurity. The media embark on a “moral crusade” against “deviant folk” Miller argues that the moral panic is used as “ideological social control”
Deviancy Amplification (Hall)
A term used to describe the process that attempts to control deviance leads to an increase. So societies reaction to in increases it. HALL lead to black youths more likely to be stereotyped. Mods and rockers and recent fear of global terrorism.
Braithwaite
Found a positive way to use labelling he found two types of shaming.
Disintegrative- the crime and the criminal is labelled as bad and excluded form society.
Reintergrative shaming- By contrast the act is bad but not the person this is used in school and found places where its used has less deviance.
Critics of Interactionism
Argue that we are not as passive as they make out. AKER states we are not powerless we can choose to carry out a deviant act.
