Interactionism And Labelling

Question 1

Eye of the beholder

Answer 1

Becker defines how deviance is a social construction as it differs from society to society

Question 2

Typifications

Answer 2

Cicourel argues how officers decisions to arrest are influenced by their stereotypes about offenders called “typifications” This meant that they patrol working class areas more because they fit the typifications more leading to them spotting their crimes and arresting them more.

Question 3

Secondary deviance

Answer 3

Lemert argues that society labels deviants, who then internalise the label as their master status through a self fulfilling prophecy which leads them to commit more deviance known as “secondary deviance”

Question 4

Criticism of secondary deviance

Answer 4

Downes and rock argue how secondary deviance is deterministic , as you can not tell whether a person who is labelled will have a deviant career as they are free to choose not to deviate further

Question 5

Deviance amplification spiral

Answer 5

Cohen argues how the attempt to control deviance leads to an increase in the level of deviance which then leads to greater attempts to control it and this results in even greater deviance leading to an escalating spiral.

Question 6

Labelling and criminal justice policy

Answer 6

Triplett argues how harsher sentences for deviance in USA has led to more deviance, confirming Lemert theory of secondary deviance.

Question 7

Reintegrative shaming

Answer 7

Braithwaite argues how societies with reintegrative shaming have lower offending rates because it avoids stigmatising the offender. Makes it easier for offender to come back in society and avoids secondary deviance

Question 8

Meaning of suicide

Answer 8

Douglas argues how suicide is a social construction as whether a death is recorded as suicide in official statistics depends on the interactions between social actors such as coroner, relatives, friends, doctors etc