interactionist explanation Flashcards
What do functionalist and subcultural theories assume about mainstream culture regarding criminal and deviant behavior?
They assume there is a consensus about what criminal and deviant behavior is
This implies that crime and deviance are seen as absolute.
How does interactionism view crime and deviance?
It believes that there is no deviance; only acts that are labelled as deviant
This perspective suggests that crime and deviance are relative.
What is a label in the context of Becker’s labelling theory?
A social judgement made about someone before knowing them
Labels are often based on stereotypes.
What effect can the labels we give people have on their future actions?
They can define their future actions and behavior, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy
A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when an individual’s behavior aligns with the label given.
What is a master status in Becker’s labelling theory?
A powerful label that becomes the defining feature of an individual’s identity
This means that the label overshadows other aspects of the person’s identity.
What factors affect whether an individual gets labelled as deviant?
- Who the individual is
- When the act is committed
- Where the act is committed
- The society or culture in which the act takes place
- The historical and political context of the act
These factors can influence the perception and reaction to the act.
What is ‘Primary Deviance’ according to Edwin Lemert?
‘Primary Deviance’ is rule-breaking that Lemert did not consider particularly important in itself
It refers to the initial act of deviance before any labels are applied.
Define ‘Secondary Deviance’ as per Edwin Lemert’s theory.
‘Secondary Deviance’ is the deviance that occurs as a consequence of the responses of others to the rule-breaking
This includes all deviance that takes place after an individual has been labelled.
What is the concept of deviancy amplification?
It describes how negative social reactions can lead to increased deviance among a group
Developed by Wilkins in 1965, it suggests a cycle of exclusion and deviance.
What do phenomenologists study?
They study how reality is shaped by people’s perceptions
They believe the social world is based on interpretations placed on events.
What did Atkinson’s study of suicide reveal?
Suicide rates are influenced by subjective recording practices
Different countries and coroners have varied definitions and methods of recording suicide.
What can studying suicide uncover according to phenomenology?
It can uncover the practices and individuals who record and define suicide
The true cause and reason for the victim’s death can never be fully known.
What did Jock Young find in his study of marijuana users in Notting Hill?
He found that being labelled by police led users to lose jobs and social networks, worsening their deviant behavior
This often resulted in moving onto harder drugs and drug dealing.
What incident did Malinowski describe in his ethnographic study of the Trobriand Islands?
A young man broke exogamy rules and was publicly insulted, leading to his suicide
The incident was initiated by the girl’s discarded lover, who felt personally injured.