Lec 8 Flashcards
Symbolic Interactionism (3 basic premises)
People act toward objects in their lives according to meaning of those objects
The meanings of objects arise from interactions with other people
These meanings are applied and modified as individuals interpret particular situations
Labelling Theory of Crime: Edwin Lemert
Deviance is not a quality of the act but the label others attach to it.
Crime is the consequence of social definition
Two types of deviation
Primary deviation
Secondary deviation
Primary deviation
The initial acts of deviance before deviance becomes a way of life
Individuals may “drift”-torn between deviant or conventional ways
Social control has failed for these people who instead seek honor from their peers in underground traditions
A “label” is successfully applied if it moves a person toward a deviant identity and career
Secondary deviation
Deviance that results from the imposing of a label- it becomes a part of some ones identity
Process of being labeled
A deviant process of negotiation
Depends on factors other than the individual’s behavior
Master status
When a label is successfully applied
Leads to self-fulfilling prophesy
Links Between Primary Deviance, Social reaction, and secondary deviance
Primary deviance leads to social reaction which leads to secondary deviance
Criminal identity
A social category into which deviants are placed by other in the community in which they may place themselves.
What might criminal identity lead to
Further criminal behavior especially if conventional bonds are weakened and deviant bonds are strengthened
Deviance career
The passage of an individual through recognized stages in one or more related deviant identities
Careers involve…
Adjustments to, and interpretations of, the contingencies and turning points encountered at each stage
What is fundamental to having a deviant career
Labeling
Moral rhetorics
Offenders’ subcultures used to justify deviant behavior by claiming it is morally right
Rhetoric of egoism
Neutralizing stigma (eg. stealing from people who are greedy and immoral)
Instrumental rhetoric
Justify their acts by stressing the cunning and power they can bring to bear against powerful people
What do moral rhetorics do if successful
Reinforce deviant acts neutralize the “stigma” or negative social evaluation from deviance
Moral entrepreneurs
People who advocate for new rules and laws or different enforcement of existing laws
What do moral entrepreneurs do
Assert the existence of a particular condition or state of affairs
Define the condition as harmful or undesirable
Try to arouse support of the public
Police reform campaign-Following the killing George Floyd
There has been campaigns for the defunding of police
Some extreme campaigners called for the abolition of the police
George Floyd Justice In Policing Act 2021
Bill being passed by the House of Representatives in the US
Addresses police misconduct, excessive use of force, and racial bias in policing
Labelling theory (Contribution)
Labelling ex-convicts by denying them jobs and community support leads to repeat of offense
Labelling theory (Policy implication)
Reducing the amount of official labeling through diversion/decriminalization
Diversion
Engaging deviants in productive community programs that does not label or discriminate against criminals
Decriminalization
Less emphasis on criminalization
Differential association theory-Edwin Sutherland
Crime is learned through learning acceptable behaviors
Learned in interaction with others
Where does a significant part of learning occur
Within intimate personal groups
Learning includes…
techniques of committing the crime and the directions of motives and drives
The direction of motives and drives is learned from
The definition of legal codes as favorable or unfavorable
A person becomes a delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of the law
Differential associations may vary in
Frequency, duration, priority, and intensity
Criminal behavior is an expression of
The same general needs and values as non-criminal behaviors
Differential association theory (Contribution)
Empirical evidence suggests good social and learning environments help prevent delinquency and crime among young people
Differential association theory (Policy Implication)
Parents should impact good values in their children
Government should ensure that young people are productive and engaged in community development activities
Excluded individuals with subcultural values should be rehabilitated and brought back to the mainstream
Interactionist Theories-Critiques
Fail to relate crime and deviance to the political and economic contexts/structures in which they occur
Both theories ignore the ability of people to redeem themselves or fight off negative social influences
Labelling theories view labels as interpretations and not as a cause of crime or deviance (thus is difficult to test or verify)
Labelling theory is more concerned with official labels and labels of the powerless members of society.
