Interactionists And Labelling Theory On Crime & Deviance

Question 1

What is the social construction of crime?

Answer 1

This is the interactionist view that it is not the nature of the act that makes it deviant but the nature of society’s reaction to the act.

Becker claims that acts are only deviant because society deems it to be.

Question 2

What is the labelling process identified by Becker?

Answer 2

This is the process of which an individual is labelled as deviant and this becomes their master status.

1) The individual is labelled as deviant-> this becomes their master status e.g. thief.
2) Blocked opportunities -> The individual experiences blocked opportunities due to their label and opportunities in society are blocked.
3) Further deviance/ deviant career- this leaves the individual with no other choice but to have a deviant career as they are marginalised from society and opportunities are limited.

Question 3

How has the labelling process affected law making according to Becker?

Answer 3

• There has been an increase in stop and searches due to labelling.
• Governments and legal systems apply labels to deviant activities by criminalising them.
• Marijuana usage was deemed as deviant in 1930s , laws were created to get rid of marijuana usage.

Question 4

What are the evaluations of Becker labelling process?

Answer 4

+ focuses on the underdogs of society and how criminals are stigmatised

• lack of explanation to why crime occurs

Question 5

What is Cicourel’s view on crime and deviance?

Answer 5

Cicourel believes that the m/c are able to negotiate the justice system better than the working class.

This is due to the stereotype of officers and people within the criminal justice system.

Question 6

What is the negotiation of justice identified by Cicourel?

Answer 6

This looks at how rates of delinquency are consistent in bad areas.

-> delinquents were more likely to be charged and arrested in these areas, low income areas

Question 7

What is Cicourel’s view on the typical delinquent?

Answer 7

• in low income areas, those arrested fit the image of a ‘typical delinquent’
• through language, appearance and attitude were judged by those in the justice system e.g. stop and search.

Question 8

How are m/c parents as to negotiate their child’s justice according to Cicourel?

Answer 8

• as their child did not fit the stereotype of the ‘typical delinquent’
• they were able to convince those in the CJS that their child was going through a ‘tough time’ and had a ‘bright future’

-> this led to the police being convinced that their parents were able to deal with the situation themselves, this reflects lower rates of m/c delinquency.

Question 9

What case study supports Cicourel’s view that m/c are able to negotiate their child’s justice?

Answer 9

The case study of Brock Turner.

• Brock was guilty of sexually assaulting a girl in uni.
• parents argued his life should not be ruined for ‘20 minutes of action’
• received 6 months instead of 14 years, which he attempted to appeal
• > this reflects that m/c delinquency tends to be seen as a lack of judgement instead of criminal intent

Question 10

What are the evaluations of Cicourel view?

Answer 10

+There is evidence for the different rates of offending by social class/ ethnic group , official crime statistics

• assumes the CJS label delinquents in the same way
• offers limited explanation of why crimes were committed in the first place.

Question 11

What is the dark figure of crime?

Answer 11

The dark figure of crime is the difference between crimes represented by the official crime statistics and the real rate of crime. This looks at the crime that goes unreported and unrecorded.

Question 12

What are the alternative statistics?

Answer 12

Some sociologists use victim crime surveys where people are asked about the types of crimes they have been victim to. In order to gain an accurate view of the amount of crime.

Question 13

What is Cicourel’s study of topic vs resource?

Answer 13

Cicourel’s study shows that official crime statistics do not give us a valid picture and cannot be used as a resource.

Instead we should treat them as a topic for sociologists to investigate the processes that created these statistics.

-> this will reveal the activities of control agencies and how they process and label certain types of people as criminals.

Question 14

What is Lemert’s view on crime and deviance?

Answer 14

Lemert focuses on how society’s reactions impact crime and deviance.
Lemert looks at primary and secondary deviance.

Question 15

What is primary deviance according to Lemert?

Answer 15

Primary deviance is the acts people commit before they are labelled as deviant.

Question 16

What are societal reactions identified by Lemert?

Answer 16

Societal reactions is how individuals react determine the reaction of the individual.

• if an act is condemned by society or those closest to the individual, this could lead to rejection, disapproval/ isolation.
• this can impact on the individuals future behaviour/ the label may be internalised e.g. thief.

Question 17

How does societal deviance impact secondary deviance?

Answer 17

Lemert states that the societal reaction to the original act of deviance could impact on future deviance

• This is evident in society as the impact of labelling on ex offenders limits opportunities to integrate into society and find employment once they have a criminal record.
• with limited options, further deviance occurs in order to gain status or financial gain.

Therefore, societal reaction determines future deviant careers.

Question 18

What are the evaluations of Lemert’s view on societal reactions causing secondary deviance?

Answer 18

• Quite deterministic as it suggests the reactions of others will shape future deviance
• critics would suggest that deviance is often overcome and people will drift in and out , Matza

Question 19

What is Braithwaite’s theory on how labelling effects crime and deviance?

Answer 19

Braithwaite believes that the process of labelling leads to reoffending. This is because the criminal is punished for the act and also for being a criminal. He looks at disintegrative shaming and reintegrative shaming and the impact this has on reoffending.

Question 20

What is disintegrative shaming and what impact does this have according to Braithwaite?

Answer 20

Disintegrative shaming is where the criminal is labelled twice, for the act and for being a criminal e.g. murder and for being a murderer.

-> this leads to criminals being labelled and isolated in society, causing further offending

Question 21

What is reintegrative shaming and what impact does it have according to Braithwaite?

Answer 21

Reintegrative shaming is a positive approach identified by Braithwaite.

• this offers hope of redemption
• ‘hate the crime but not the criminal’

-> this has to potential to lead criminals to be reintegrated into society showing remorse for actions and making reparations for their actions.

Question 22

How can reintegrative shaming be applied into society?

Answer 22

Rehabilitation programmes for ex offenders
Face victims
Undertake counselling

-> in societies where this exists , reduces rates of recidivism and overall crime rate.

Question 23

What are the evaluations of Braithwaite view?

Answer 23

• doesn’t recognise causes of crime
• not a suitable deterrent of criminal behaviour
  + promotes alternatives to imprisonment, where criminals can’t gain a larger criminal network unlike prison