Labelling

Question 1

Larry Craig and Ralph Cooper

Answer 1

senator from Idaho arrested for inappropriate conduct in Minneapolis airport

Question 2

moral panics - 5 characteristics

Answer 2

concern, hostility, consensus, disproportionality, volatility
exaggerated fear that causes further irrational behaviour

Question 3

labelling theory main points - 1960s

Answer 3

no victim, no crime!
popularized from mass social movements
AKA societal reactionist perspective - reactionists being those who have the power TO label

Question 3

main interest of label theorists

Answer 3

socio-historical development of deviant labels
applications of labels to certain people/places, etc
symbolic and practical consequences of labels
the context of how labels are applied (THE LOGIC in this theory is a PRECURSOR for POSTMODERN THINKING on SOCIAL ISSUES)

Question 3

Lemert, 1951

Answer 3

book: Social Pathology
deviance = in the eye of the beholder/crusader.

primary deviance: violation of norms where deviant does not see themself as a deviant (i.e. first try of something)
secondary deviance: a person engaging in deviance as a means of deviance (i.e. fulfilling the stereotype/rebelling)

Question 4

Becker

Answer 4

rule creators vs rule enforcers

Question 4

labelling process - 6 steps

Answer 4

deviance (primary), reaction (from society), role engulfment (accepting of label), secondary deviance, stigma, master status (permanent label)

Question 4

Rosenhan’s findings

Answer 4

“on being sane in insane places” - 1973
fake patients were put into asylums and were all diagnosed by doctors with schizophrenia within an average stay of 9 days - however, the REAL psychopatients could tell that the study participants were not mentally ill.
conclusion: CANNOT DISTINGUISH SANITY FROM INSANITY

Question 5

Rosenhan - the “tag”

Answer 5

the irreversible label of mentally ill patients

Question 6

the justice system - how can we make society more enjoyable?

Answer 6

1. decriminalize victimless crimes
2. least restrictive control

Question 7

criticism: causal critique

Answer 7

lacks an explanation of what CAUSES primary deviance

Question 8

criticism: normative critique

Answer 8

FUNCTIONALISTS maintain that deviance is an action that actually violates real norms, not just a whimsical label
i.e. cheating on a partner - a real social commitment!

Question 9

criticisms: structural critique

Answer 9

CONFLICT/NEO-MARXISTS claim labels fail to examine capitalism as a main factor of deviance