Labelling Theories of Crime and Deviance

Question 1

What is a social construction?

Answer 1

A social phenomena that is created by a society and isn’t a naturally occurring result of evolution.

Question 2

What is Becker’s theory of relativity of crime and deviance?

Answer 2

Contextual (nudity), historical period (homosexuality, opium), cultural (drinking alcohol in Saudi Arabia), generational (ideas of normal vary between age groups)

Question 3

Who are moral entrepreneurs?

Answer 3

The people who decide what is morally acceptable within society. E.g. ruling class, governments, law makers.

Question 4

What is Lemert’s process of primary deviance in relation to the process of labelling?

Answer 4

A person commits an act that they know is deviant/criminal but no one else knows so no label is attached.

Question 5

What is Lemert’s process of secondary deviance in relation to the process of labelling?

Answer 5

The deviant act is witnessed and a label is attached to the person committing the act.

Question 6

What does Cicourel believe about labelling?

Answer 6

Labelling is what leads to selective law enforcement and negotiation of justice. When a group is labelled as deviant or criminal then the police are likely to focus on that group and therefore reinforce the stereotype.
He referred to this as typifications - common sense theories and stereotypes of what is a ‘typical criminal’.

Question 7

What are some examples of agencies of social control?

Answer 7

Formal:
- Police
- CJS
- Courts
Informal:
- Peers
- Society

Question 8

What are the 3 consequences of labelling?

Answer 8

• Self-fulfilling prophecy
• Deviancy amplification
• Master status

Question 9

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 9

Once a person is labelled as deviant, they take on the label and begin to act in the way that they have been labelled.

Question 10

What is deviancy amplification?

Answer 10

An attempt to control deviance leads to a greater amount of that deviance.
E.g. Mods and Rockers

Question 11

What is a master status?

Answer 11

Where the individual is identified by a particular aspect of themselves and this impacts how they are treated in society.
With criminals this can lead to a deviant or criminal career as their label prevents them from accessing legitimate means of achieving social goals.

Question 12

What are some strengths of labelling theories of crime and deviance?

Answer 12

• Emphasises the social construction of crime and deviance.
• Identifies and reveals the role of the powerful in crime and deviance.
• Shows how deviant careers can be established.

Question 13

What are some limitations of labelling theories of crime and deviance?

Answer 13

• The deviant becomes the victim and therefore isn’t to blame for their behaviour.
• Deterministic.
• Doesn’t explain why people commit the original deviance.
• Doesn’t explain where the stereotypes come from.