Labelling theory Flashcards
Labelling Theory
interactionist approach
crime = soc construc - dif in dif countries - homosexuality - illegal in Saudi Arabia - not in UK - dif overtime - decrim in 1968 in UK
Labelling
occurs when:
* charas = applied to indus on basis of descrip, names / labels
* draw on common stereos
* usually neg - behav interp neg
* may become public know
* for variety of reasons labelled ppl lives up to label
Bartlett (2015)
m ppl commit dev acts than = caught
2000 ppl asked on av broke law 17x a yr 63% admitted speeding, 33% stealing, 25% illegal drug use
Becker
what = C/D = subj decisions by moral entrepreneurs = agents of soc control while decide what behavs = dev
how soc responds to dev depends of whether act / person = publicly labelled as dev
eg having children out of marriage wasn’t a crime but = dev
Examples of Relative Deviance / Rule Creation
Marijuana Tax Act 1930s
Prohibition 1920s
Decrim Homosexuality USA 1974
Symbolic Interactionism
argues that:
* soc world has cul def syms - approp ways to act
* everytime 2/m ppl interact amend their behav
* your self/self concept influs the way interact w/ others
Selective Enforcement
Cicourel (1974)
police sterotypes will determine labels of C&D
m likely applied to WC X MC
Cicourel (1974)
law makers use subj & stereo assumps - means offic stats = soc contruc
rates of delinq inc in WC areas than MC areas - police view MC areas/parents as m sup = ‘good backgrounds’
temp lapse when = MC crime
we need to look at choices made by police when dealing w/ MC & WC crime
Lemert - Primary Deviance
a person commits an act they know = D/C but no one else knows so no label
Lemert - Secondary Deviance
the deviant act = witnessed & label = attached
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
Consequences of Labelling
once labelled as dev person takes on label & begin to act that way
Deviancy Amplification
Consequences of Labelling
attempt to control dev leads to inc amounts of that dev
eg Cohen’s Mods & Rockers & Jock Young’s study of Cannabis smokers in Notting Hill
Master Status
Consequences of Labelling
when indu = iden by aspect of themselves eg being crim - impacts how are treated w/in soc - can lead to dev / crim career as label prev access to legit ways of ach soc goals
Strengths of Labelling Theory
emphasises social construction of crime & dev
idens & reveals role of powerful C & D
shows how dev careers can be estab
Limitations of Labelling Theory
dev = the vic & not to blame for their behav
deterministic
doesn’t explain why ppl commit original dev
doesn’t explain where stereotypes come from
