Labelling theory

Question 1

who did a study called ‘folk devils and moral panics’?

Answer 1

stanley cohen

Question 2

which sociologist is associated with primary and secondary deviance?

Answer 2

lemert

Question 3

what does becker mean by the term ‘moral entrepreneurs’

Answer 3

people who decide what is morally acceptable within society

Question 4

what term does cicourel use to describe the common sense theories and stereotypes used by police officers to identify offenders?

Answer 4

typifications

Question 5

what is meant by the deviancy amplification spiral?

Answer 5

an attempt to control deviance leads to greater amounts of that deviance

Question 6

primary deviance

Answer 6

know you’ve committed an act - no label

Question 7

secondary deviance

Answer 7

witnessed and labelled, consequence of the crime

Question 8

which sociologist is associated with the positive effects of labelling such as reintegrative shaming?

Answer 8

cicourel

Question 9

folk devil

Answer 9

describe a group or individual who is demonised and blamed for social problems

Question 10

formal agencies of social control

Answer 10

cps and police

Question 11

informal agencies of social control

Answer 11

peers

Question 12

Reintegrative shaming

Answer 12

labels the act, not the actor

Question 13

Disintegrative shaming

Answer 13

punishes the crime and the offender

Question 14

What are the consequences of labelling?

Answer 14

• Self Fulfilling Prophecy = once a person is labelled they take on the label and begin to act in the way that they have been labelled
• Deviancy Amplification = an attempt to control deviance leads to greater amounts - Stan Cohen Mods and Rockers
• Master Status (Becker) = where the individual is identified by a particular aspect of themselves such as being criminal and this impacts how they’re treated in society - label prevents them from accessing legitimate means of achieving social goals

Question 15

Evaluation

Answer 15

Strengths:
- shows how deviant careers can be established
- identifies and reveals the role of the powerful in crime and deviance
- emphasises the social construction of crime and deviance
- supporting evidence that police are biased against: poor, young and black people

Limitations:
- deviant becomes the victim and therefore not to blame for behaviour
- deterministic = not everyone accepts their label
- gives offender victim status = letting them off being responsible for their crimes
- doesn’t explain why people commit the original deviance
- doesn’t explain where stereotypes come from
- overemphasis on societal reaction: Critics argue that the labelling theory excessively focuses on society’s reaction to deviance while ignoring the initial act of deviance. In doing so, it neglects to explain why individuals commit deviant or criminal acts in the first place.

Question 16

Cicourel’s Typifications

Answer 16

believes that 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 more likely to focus on the group and therefore reinforce the stereotype