Labelling Theory

Question 1

labelling theory - focuses on

Answer 1

• interactions between deviants & those who define them as deviant
• process where rules are selectively enforced
• consequences of being labelled (societal reaction)
• circumstance that a person is defined as deviant
• analysis of who has to power to attach deviant label

Question 2

labelling theory - becker

Answer 2

an act becomes deviant when others define it as

finding the causes is pointless as many people engage in some deviant behaviour

Question 3

labelling theory - official statistics

Answer 3

social constructions
only represents those publicly labelled as criminals
law enforces interpret what they see, their subjective perceptions/stereotypes affect the criminal label attached leading to social construction

Question 4

labelling theory - moral entrepreneurs

Answer 4

social agencies (media, police) that have the power to create rules and their definitions of deviance

Question 5

labelling theory - selective enforcement

Answer 5

as police can’t prosecute all crime
considerable discretion and selective judgement is used when dealing with deviant behaviour
pre-existing stereotypical categories, criminal types, ares influence their response

Question 6

labelling theory - work of cicourel

Answer 6

two US cities
juvenile crime rates were higher in working-class read than middle-class areas
people viewed their behaviour differently
perception that middle-class deviant behaviour was a temporary lapse

Question 7

labelling theory - labelling process; primary deviance

Answer 7

deviant act that has not been publicly labeled as no one knows about it
has few consequences

Question 8

labelling theory - labelling process; secondary deviance

Answer 8

when an offender is discovered
publicly labelled as deviant
affects their self-concept

Question 9

labelling theory - labelling process; master status

Answer 9

turned from deviant label
displaces all other characteristics the individual possess
judged solely as a deviant

Question 10

labelling theory - what does labelling lead to?

Answer 10

self-fulfilling prophecy
deviant career
- becker

Question 11

labelling theory - deviant career

Answer 11

prisons help make the label stick
after leaving prison they face rejection from social groups
find lack of alternative legitimate opportunities to live their lives
identity with a deviant group facing similar problems
leads to further deviance

Question 12

labelling theory - what generates more deviance?

Answer 12

deviancy amplification and moral panics

Question 13

labelling theory - strengths

Answer 13

• establishes that deviants not different to normal people
• reveals importance of stereotyping in creating deviance
• shows crime statistics as a product of bias in law-enforcement

Question 14

labelling theory - weakness

Answer 14

• removes blame from deviant, and into a victim
• many know what they’re doing is deviant without label
• doesn’t explain causes
• deterministic; some choose deviance & some can choose to avoid deviant career by rehabilitating themselves
• doesn’t explain where different reactions/stereotypes come from
• doesn’t create a policy/solution to crime