Interactionist view on crime

Question 1

What is master Status ?

Answer 1

• the most dominant part of someones identity

Question 2

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy ?

Answer 2

Internalisation of labels

Question 3

What does Becker say about labelling in relation to deviance ?

Answer 3

• deviance is socially constructed
• people who have been labelled as outsiders and live up to the label become deviant
• deviance is the product of responding to behaviours

Question 4

What is Malinowski’s study ?

Answer 4

• he looked at public shaming
• studied Trobriand Island
• incest of cousins was deviant but people turned a blin-eye to it
• One man was accused in front of the whole community
• suicide was the honourable decision so he jumped off the top of a palm-tree
• Becker: said this only became deviant and serious once there was public accusation

Question 5

What was Lemert’s study on interactionism ?

Answer 5

Primary deviance = acts that haven’t been labelled because they are widespread
Secondary deviance = Deviant behaviours that is consciously engaged in, expression of a deviant self-concept e.g gang crime
1. Caught and publicly shamed
2. Stigmatised shamed and humiliated
3. Master-status (thief, outsider)
4. fulfilling prophecy
5. Leads to a deviant career