Interactionism and Labelling Theory Flashcards
What does Becker mean by a “moral crusade”?
A movement by moral entrepreneurs to change laws or rules, creating new definitions of deviance.
How do labelling theorists explain “selective enforcement”?
Agents of control police certain groups more due to bias or stereotypes, not actual offence rates.
Why do interactionists stress the context in which acts occur?
Because an act may be labelled deviant in one setting but normal in another, showing deviance is not fixed.
How does the media’s portrayal of crime relate to labelling theory?
Media exaggeration can solidify deviant labels, fueling moral panics and reinforcing stereotypes.
What does Rosenhan’s “pseudo‐patient” experiment suggest about psychiatric labels?
Once labelled, normal behaviour may still be interpreted as pathological, illustrating label persistence.
What is “mortification of the self,” according to Goffman?
A process in total institutions where inmates lose personal identity, adopting the institution’s imposed role.
Why do labelling theorists argue official control can make deviance worse?
Negative labels isolate offenders, pushing them into deviant subcultures, strengthening deviant careers.
How can reintegrative shaming help reinstate offenders into society?
It denounces the act but shows acceptance for the offender, easing their transition back into normal roles.
What is the key criticism that labelling theory underplays serious social inequality?
It focuses on interaction and neglects how class, race, and power dynamics shape who gets labelled.
How do labelling theorists view “justice negotiations” in processes like plea bargains?
Middle‐class suspects often bargain successfully to reduce labels, while marginalised groups struggle more.
What do interactionists focus on when studying crime and deviance?
How social interactions shape definitions of deviance and how these labels affect those labelled.
What is meant by the ‘social construction’ of crime?
Crime is defined through social processes, with acts becoming criminal only when society labels them as such.
According to Becker, how do “moral entrepreneurs” influence law creation?
By campaigning for new rules to impose on others, thus creating ‘outsiders’ who break these rules.
Why is deviance said to be “in the eye of the beholder”?
No act is inherently deviant; it becomes deviant when people label it that way.
Which factors determine whether someone is arrested, charged, or convicted, per labelling theory?
Their interactions with social control agents, their appearance/background, and the context of the offence.
How do ‘typifications’ affect police decisions, according to Cicourel?
Officers use stereotypes of the “typical delinquent,” leading them to target certain groups more, reinforcing bias.
What did Cicourel find about middle‐class youths and justice outcomes?
They often negotiate more successfully due to parental support and not fitting the “typical delinquent” stereotype.
Why does Cicourel say crime stats should be treated as a topic, not a resource?
They don’t give a valid picture of crime but reveal how criminal justice agents label and process people.
What is the “dark figure” of crime?
The unknown, unreported, and unrecorded crime that official stats miss.
How do victim surveys/ self‐report studies differ from official stats?
They ask individuals directly about their offending/victimhood, revealing hidden crime—though they have their own limitations.
What do labelling theorists mean by “the effects of labelling”?
Once labelled, individuals may internalise the deviant identity, causing more deviance.
How does Lemert distinguish between primary and secondary deviance?
Primary deviance is minor rule‐breaking with little impact on identity; secondary deviance occurs after being publicly labelled, shaping self‐concept.
What is a ‘master status’?
A deviant label overriding all other identities—others see the person mainly in terms of that label.
How can master status provoke a “crisis” in one’s self‐concept?
The individual struggles to maintain their previous identity, possibly accepting the deviant label and acting accordingly.
What does Lemert call the process of living up to one’s deviant label?
A self‐fulfilling prophecy, causing further deviance (secondary deviance).
What is a ‘deviant career’?
Continued deviance after the label, involving outsiders for support and a subculture that confirms the deviant identity.
What is the ‘deviance amplification spiral’?
Attempts to control deviance lead to more deviance, prompting harsher control, which inflames the problem further.
Which study by Cohen (1972) illustrates a deviance amplification spiral?
“Folk Devils and Moral Panics,” on ‘mods and rockers,’ where media exaggeration led to public concern and more deviance.
How does public ‘shaming’ sometimes backfire?
It can isolate and stigmatise offenders more, pushing them into deeper deviance.
What is the difference between disintegrative and reintegrative shaming (Braithwaite)?
Disintegrative labels both the act and offender as bad, excluding them; reintegrative labels the act as bad but not the person.
Why does reintegrative shaming lead to lower crime rates?
It avoids stigmatising the offender’s identity, encourages forgiveness, and reincludes them in society.
How does Douglas (1967) view official suicide statistics?
He sees them as social constructions based on coroner labels, not real rates of self‐killing.
What does Douglas propose for studying suicide meaning?
Using qualitative methods (suicide notes, interviews) to uncover the individual’s perspective behind the death.
How does Atkinson (1978) argue we can’t know real suicide rates?
Coroners’ assumptions about typical suicides shape their verdicts, making the data mere interpretations.
Why do interactionists reject official stats on mental illness?
They see them as labels given by powerful professionals (e.g., psychiatrists), not objective measures.
How does Lemert’s study of paranoia show labelling’s role?
Suspicious behavior may provoke exclusion, intensifying paranoia, leading to official mental illness labels.
What does Goffman’s concept of ‘institutionalisation’ reveal?
Once admitted to a ‘total institution,’ individuals can internalise a new identity, resist, or adapt, but often struggle to re‐enter normal life.
What did Braginski et al. (1969) find about long‐term psychiatric patients?
They manipulated symptoms to appear “not well enough” for discharge but “not sick enough” for confinement, gaining freedom inside the hospital.
What does labelling theory show about the law’s construction?
Laws aren’t fixed rules but are enforced in discriminatory ways, reflecting the activities of control agents.
How might attempts to control deviance backfire, according to labelling theorists?
Harsh punishments can increase deviance by pushing offenders into outsider subcultures, fueling a deviant career.
What does Triplett (2000) note about tougher sentences for minor offences?
They increase recidivism, as youth offenders labelled as “evil” become less likely to obey norms, deepening their deviance.
How might decriminalising minor offences reduce deviance, per labelling theory?
Fewer people get negative labels, lowering secondary deviance and deviant careers.
What is the essential policy implication of labelling theory?
Avoid attaching deviant labels unnecessarily, focusing on reintegration and reducing stigma.
How do realists criticise labelling theory for ignoring real victims?
They argue the approach overemphasises the label’s effects and neglects the harm crime does to actual victims.
Why is labelling theory sometimes seen as too deterministic?
It suggests once labelled, deviance inevitably follows, downplaying individual choice and resistance to labels.
How does labelling theory fail to explain primary deviance causes, as critics say?
It focuses on the reaction to deviance, not on why people commit original acts before any label.
What is one strength of labelling theory in studying crime stats?
It questions official statistics, highlighting their bias and the need to understand how they’re produced.
Why does labelling theory resonate with interpretivist approaches?
It views deviance through subjective meanings and interactions, aligning with a micro‐level focus on social construction.
Which sociologist argued deviant labels might be beneficial by reinforcing collective values?
Durkheim, though labelling theorists see deviance as constructed, not inevitable or always functional.
In what way do labelling theorists see power relations at work?
They note those in power (courts, police, psychiatrists) impose deviant labels disproportionately on the less powerful.
What practical measure do labelling theorists suggest to reduce deviance?
Policies promoting reintegrative shaming, community‐based sentences, and supportive interventions instead of harsh stigmatisation.
Why might the public punishment of offenders increase deviance instead of deterring it?
Public shaming creates outcasts who turn to deviant subcultures for acceptance.
How does the media contribute to deviance amplification?
By sensationalising deviance, creating moral panics, and labelling groups as ‘folk devils,’ it fuels more deviant responses.
Why does labelling theory see mental illness and suicide stats as socially produced?
They result from definitions and decisions by medical or legal officials, not purely objective conditions.
What does Goffman show about how labels can alter identities long‐term?
‘Total institutions’ strip previous roles, creating a new “inmate” identity that can persist after release.
How do some labelling theorists view ‘crime prevention’ efforts?
They see them as potentially increasing deviance if they publicly brand individuals, limiting their legitimate options.
Why do critics say labelling theory underestimates personal agency?
Individuals can reject labels or negotiate their identity, so not everyone internalises a deviant label.
How do label‐generated ‘moral panics’ link to media influences?
Media exaggeration fosters public outrage, pushing authorities to clamp down, which amplifies deviance further.
Which concept by Becker explains why once labelled, it’s hard to remove a deviant identity?
The idea of the master status, overshadowing other identities (e.g., worker, parent).
Why does Lemert argue that “societal reaction” is key to secondary deviance?
Without labelling, deviant acts might remain isolated, but labelling transforms them into a deviant identity.
In short, what does labelling theory urge policy‐makers to do?
Limit formal interventions, use reintegrative approaches, and avoid creating deviant identities unnecessarily.
How do critics respond to the idea of limiting state intervention in crime?
They claim ignoring real deviance can endanger public safety, and not all labelling is unjust.
Why might attempts to ‘name and shame’ criminals be problematic?
It can create permanent stigmatisation, pushing offenders into repeat deviance instead of reform.
What lesson do labelling theorists draw from Atkinson’s study of suicides?
Stat categories are products of coroner assumptions, so researchers must interpret them carefully.
In what way do labelling theorists see official crime stats as incomplete?
They ignore how policing priorities, stereotypes, and label‐based decisions shape who gets recorded as criminal.
How did Jock Young’s study of hippies show deviance amplification?
Police labelling of marijuana users led them to retreat into a deviant subculture, intensifying drug use and deviant identity.
Why is mental illness a good case study for interactionists?
Labels like ‘schizophrenic’ or ‘paranoid’ rely on subjective judgments by professionals, illustrating social construction of deviance.
How can hospitalisation reinforce psychiatric labels, as per Goffman?
Patients’ everyday life is controlled, so they adapt to that label and setting, complicating their return to “normal” social roles.
What is a common criticism of labelling theory’s take on mental illness?
It may downplay genuine psychological problems by focusing heavily on the labelling process.
How does Braithwaite’s concept of reintegrative shaming offer a more optimistic approach?
It separates the offender from the offence, allowing for remorse, apology, and reacceptance without a permanent deviant label.
What overall insight do interactionists bring to crime and deviance study?
They highlight the power of social definitions, the role of agencies in applying labels, and the consequences of being labelled deviant.
Which broad perspective often critiques labelling theory for ignoring structural causes?
Marxists, who argue we must consider inequality and capitalist power structures behind law creation and enforcement.
