Labelling Theory/Interactionists

Question 1

Becker studied how an act or behaviour becomes labelled as deviant and the consequences of it

Answer 1

concluded deviant people are not that different from everyone else because the act gains different reactions and labels depending on the social situation

• other people’s reactions and labels determine whether you are being deviant

Question 2

Labelling someone as deviant can affect their future behaviour - deviance career

Answer 2

Becker - labels give people the self concept of being deviant thus increasing likeliness of acting so, similarly shame from others can cause feelings of rejection so they return to deviance which reinforces their label

(+) Jock Young’s study of drug users showed this

Question 3

Lemert - primary and secondary deviance

Answer 3

primary deviance (initial act) has little significance until their is a social reaction + a label occurs, the weight of the label leads to more of that behaviour = secondary deviance

• deviance amplification