Interactionism - Labelling Flashcards
What are moral entrepreneurs?
Individuals who have the power to impose their definitions of deviance
What does Becker believe about selective law enforcement?
The police operate on the basis of stereotypes/labelling and who is more likely to be a criminal or where crime is more likely to happen
What is labelling?
Where individuals become criminals on the basis of a title given to them by society
What is primary deviance? Lemert
It is the first initial act of deviance, which is usually not caught by society, therefore the individual is not labelled
What is secondary deviance?
When a deviant act is caught and the individual is labelled - leading to a self fulfilling prophecy and a master status
This then encourages more crime
What is a deviant career? Becker
When labelling can block the criminal from certain opportunities, which results in them having a job that is linked with deviant acts, for example drug dealing
What is the deviancy amplification spiral?
The attempt to control deviant behaviour leads to more deviant behaviour, this then influences more control causing more deviancy - constant
What are the strengths of interactionism theory?
Shows how law is enforced selectively
Highlights how the media can create deviance and moral panics, which may lead to deviancy amplification, for example London Riots
What are the criticisms for interactionism theory?
Fails to explain why deviant behaviour happens initially - before labelling
Labelling does not always lead to a self fulfilling prophecy/master status
