Interactionist/Labelling Theory Of Crime

Question 1

Cicourels theory

Answer 1

Police officers have typifications- their common sense or theories about the typical delinquent.

This created social class bias in the law.

Police patrol working class areas more = more 
arrests.

Justice is not fixed it is negotiable.-middle class use cultural capital to negotiate.

Dont believe official crime statistics as crime is socially constructed.

Question 2

Beckers theory

Answer 2

Deviance is socially constructed by groups of people in power. How acts are defined as deviant.

Question 3

Lemerts theory

Answer 3

One of these status’ overrides all the others (master status).
Two types of deviance: Primary and secondary deviance.

Question 4

Difference between primary and secondary deviance.

Answer 4

Primary: commits a crime and doesnt get caught, no labelling, no change in self perception.
Secondary: commits a crime and gets caught, is labelled, treated and perceived.

Question 5

Stan Cohen’s theory

Answer 5

Stages of a moral panic:

1. Folk devil is identified.
2. Moral entrepreneurs condemn the group
3. Self fulfilling prophecy
4. Deviancy amplification spiral unwinds