Labelling Theory - Crime

Question 1

What is Labelling Theories main argument/idea?

Answer 1

Suggests that most people commit deviant behaviour and criminal acts, but only some people are caught and stigmatised for it

Question 2

What is Becker’s idea of moral entrepreneurs?

Answer 2

Groups such as the media and police who have the power and resource to create or enforce rules and impose their definitions of deviance

Question 3

What is Becker’s idea of selective law enforcement?

Answer 3

Agencies of social control use discreasion and selective judgement in deciding wether/how deal with deviant behaviour

Question 4

What is Becker’s idea of master status?

Answer 4

Once a label has been applied to a person, all other qualities become unimportant

Question 5

How does Reiss criticise Becker?

Answer 5

Suggests the process of labelling is open to negotiation.

- Study of young male prostitutes who refused to accept the label of being gay

Question 6

What is Lemert’s concepts of Primary and Secondary deviance?

Answer 6

Primary: deviance that has not been publicly labelled as such. Has no consequences for the person as long as no one knows
Secondary: Once an offender is discovered + publicly exposed the label of deviance is applied = then more likely to commit crime in the future

Question 7

How do Lemert’s concepts apply to the Inuits?

Answer 7

They sometimes mispronounced works (PD) which was then picked up by their parents and was commented on (SD) causing them to stutter more

Question 8

How does Durkheim criticise Lemert?

Answer 8

Argues it is very important for us to uncover crime so this can act as a warning device

Question 9

How does Cicourel suggest justice is not fixed but negotiable?

Answer 9

Carried out a PO + NPO as a probation officer:
When an M/C youth was arrested he was less likely to be charged than a W/C youth. His background does not fit the police’s idea of a ‘typical delinquent’
- Police concentrate on certain ‘types of’ individuals. Less likely to support noncustodial sentences for them e.g. W/C.

Question 10

What is some evaluation of Cicourel?

Answer 10

His study may not be reliable and is very subjective. Makes subjective conclusions.

Question 11

What is Jock Young’s concept of Deviancy Amplification?

Answer 11

Once acts are defined as deviant, the deviants become stigmatised and cut off from society. Begin to develop their own subcultures, leads to more pressure and isolation. This confirms and strengthen their deviance.

Question 12

What is Jock Young’s example of deviancy amplification?

Answer 12

Hippies in London:

1) police stereotype hippies as lazy, drug addicts
2) police react against hippies - stop + searched
3) hippies respond - feel different
4) retreat into small groups and isolate themselves from society
5) hippies adopt practices and develop norms and values which include greater drugs use - deviant subculture is formed
6) behaviour which began as peripheral becomes central

Question 13

How can muslim men be linked to deviancy amplification?

Answer 13

1) public/police stereotypes muslim men as ‘terriosts’
2) media, police, airport security act adopt this stereotype and these men may be targeted
3) muslim men respond - feel different to the rest of society, feel scapegoated
4) retreat into small groups + isolate
5) form a deviant subculture and our norms and values which match the stereotypes - take up terrorist activities

Question 14

What is some evaluation of Jock Young?

Answer 14

Is society so trusting of the media these days?

Many news is reported first hand on social media so harder to exaggerate

Question 15

What is Stan Cohen’s concept of moral panics?

Answer 15

Labelling groups creates a stereotyped image held by the police. This creates a societal reaction which is strong against the perceived threat against law + order

Question 16

What is Stan Cohen’s concept of folk devils?

Answer 16

By exaggeration and distorting events groups are labelled as this, such as the mods and rockers

Question 17

How do McRobbie and Thornton criticise Cohen?

Answer 17

Argue the concept of ‘moral panics’ is outdated. Concept needs to be seen in the context of the development of the media and growing sophistication of the audiences

Question 18

What is the key point of crime and deviancy amplification?

Answer 18

Suggests that the problem is amplified in the mesne that it is made to look much worse than it is, but also that it is amplified in the mesne that it can led to more crime/deviance actually occurring.

Question 19

What are 4 strengths of Labelling theory?

Answer 19

1) Takes a micro interpretivist approach which helps us understand the meanings behind a deviant or illegal act
2) Takes into account the socially constructed nature of crime and deviance
3) Helps to explain links between the media and crime
4) Helps to understand why some groups are more likely to be labelled than others

Question 20

What are 4 weaknesses of Labelling theory?

Answer 20

1) Tends to be deterministic suggesting that once someone is labelled, a deviant career is inevitable
2) It emphasis on the negative effects of labelling gives the offender a kind of victim status
3) By assuming offenders are passive victims of labelling, it ignores how some individuals may actively choose deviance
4) It implies that without labelling, deviance would not exist