Interationism Flashcards

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1
Q

What is interactionism?

A

Society is seen as a product of human interactions and the meaning placed on them. They look at societal structures on a smaller level allowing the recognition of individual agency

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2
Q

What are the strengths of interactionism?

A
  • emphasis on fluidity through society’s active participation and adaptation
  • understands context
  • creates a shared sense of understanding
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3
Q

What are the weaknesses of interactionism?

A
  • As a micro-sociology theory, it has a limited scale without considering wider structural theories such as aspects of identity
  • It doesn’t consider conversational differences such as being introverted therefore not everyone is equally influenced by social interactions
  • Oversimplifies social interactions and our sense of self without considering other factors such as personality, experiences and biology
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4
Q

What is Becker’s explanation (1963) for crime and deviance?

A

Crime and deviance are relative concepts depending on time, place, offender, and the observer (usually with power) to label the behavior. Labeling theory leads to social isolation, discrimination, and reduced opportunities. This negative internalisation can push individuals towards crime creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Through labeling, it can mean an individual can lose identity as they can live up to criminality becoming a master status.

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5
Q

What are the strengths of labeling theory?

A
  • It illustrates labels aren’t always accurate reflections of personality as they work off limited information and are subjective
  • It shows the positive and negative impacts of labels
  • Recognises individual agency
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6
Q

What are the weaknesses of labeling theory?

A
  • It focuses on the consequences of the label not the reasons like underlying factors such as poverty, discrimination or mental health issues
  • small scale
  • oversimplifies the relationship between the label and the behaviour
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7
Q

How does Akers (1967) criticise labeling theory?

A

Labeling theory implies there are no differences and reasons for the label which can’t always be true

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8
Q

What is Matza’s (1964) explanation for crime and deviance?

A

Youths may feel a moral obligation to obey the law but may feel pressure to pursue subterranean values that challenge the morally acceptable ones in which they grow out of. However, they use 5 techniques of neutralisation their behavior such as:
- denial of responsibility
- denial of injury (no harm)
-believing the victim deserved it
- labelers are in the wrong
- motivated through family, friendship, or profit

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9
Q

What is drift theory?

A

The concept that delinquency isn’t a fixed commitments as it is influenced by factors like peer pressure, boredom, or a desire for excitement

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10
Q

What are the strengths of Matza?

A
  • It challenged the dominant theories at the time
  • A shift to a nuanced theory to individual choices and the use of the techniques of neutralisation to justify deviance shifting from broad social factors
  • Recognises individual agency
  • Shows the fluidity of behavior
  • It can be used to understand how individuals justify various deviant behaviors in different contexts
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11
Q

What are the weaknesses of Matza?

A
  • His scope of justifications is limited without recognition of broader social and economic contexts
  • Oversimplified justifications
  • It doesn’t explain why some individuals might drift more frequently or for longer periods, leading to persistent patterns of delinquency
  • Theories of neutralisation could be seen as an attempt to excuse or justify deviant behavior neglecting the potential harm or consequences
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12
Q

What is Cicourel’s explanation for crime and deviance?

A

They believe you are more likely to be prosecuted if you look/act/talk like the typical deviant

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13
Q

What is Lacey’s (1970) explanation for crime and device?

A

They use labeling and social class to explain members of anti-school subcultures. Most people start secondary learning that schools are structures in sets and the ethos of competition demoralises those who are lower ability which correlate with those from lower class backgrounds

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14
Q

What is Reay’s (2009) explanation for crime and deviance?

A

They discuss when confronted with high risk of educational failure, anti-school subcultures form in white - working-class peer groups as they can’t win within the competition of education

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15
Q

What are Lemert’s (1972) concepts of primary and secondary deviance?

A

Primary consists of the action of rule-breaking which has little impact as it isn’t publically labeled and seen as an acceptable part of an individual’s lifestyle. Secondary can be seen as the negative societal impacts that can impact and individual and push them towards deviance.

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16
Q

What are the strengths of Lemert?

A
  • Provides a framework to understand how labels and social reactions can influence an individual’s behaviour
  • It shows the potential escalation of deviance through its negative consequences
  • Power dynamics are brought to attention
17
Q

What are the weaknesses of Lemert?

A
  • It doesn’t consider underlying factors like poverty, mental health issues and personal circumstances oversimplifying the causes of deviance
  • The focus on secondary deviance imply individuals are solely responsible leading to negative internalisation and victim blaming
  • It doesn’t fully consider the agency individuals posses to break from the cycle of secondary devaince
18
Q

What is Young’s (1971) theory on crime and deviance?

A

The societal reaction to drug taking amongst alienated young people evolved into a Bohemian subculture to seek out like - minded people as smoking marijuana was a solution to their problems. This created a threat to wider society leading to a growth in subculture and internalisation of the deviant label

19
Q

What is Cohen’s (1972) theory on moral panics?

A

The media often exaggerates the extent and threat of deviant behavior creating a distorted perception of reality. By looking at the violence of the Mods and the rockers, newspapers labeled them as folk devils conveying unruly and disrespect for traditional values falling to justify public reactions and increased social control. This led to a moral panic with heightened public anxiety as a threat to social order

20
Q

What are the strengths of moral panic theory?

A
  • There is a structured framework for understanding through 5 stages of folk devil emergence, media amplification, public concern, increased social control measures, and the potential for deviance amplification
  • Shows the role of the media in amplifying anxieties and shaping public perception
  • Emphasises the social construction of deviance
  • Shows power imbalances
21
Q

What are the weaknesses of moral panic theory?

A
  • The linear sequence can be seen as simplistic
  • Neglects the long term societal impacts as it only focuses on short term impacts
  • Doesn’t fully consider public agency in responding or challenging moral panics
  • Limited solutions to challenge the negative consequences of moral panics