social explanations of crime and anti-social behaviour: labelling and SFP

Question 1

when does labelling usually take place?

Answer 1

• when a group of people, are grouped together out of an interest or characteristic, see another group as INFERIOR
• creates majority-SUPERIOR group and minority-INFERIOR group
• negative ideas linked to inferior group

Question 2

what are labels based on?

Answer 2

• labels are often based on stereotypes
• once label is given to individual or group, they may be treated according to that label

Question 3

what is labelling described as?

Answer 3

• when something is expected of individual by others it becomes true
• if someone is given a label, they may well live up to that label, leading to stereotyping

Question 4

when is a behaviour considered deviant?

Answer 4

• behaviour is only deviant if society says it is deviant
• by giving behaviour label of deviant, then authorities maintain their power structure

Question 5

what happens when a person is labelled deviant?

Answer 5

• once person has been labelled deviant because of a behaviour that person becomes stigmatised
• label affects how others treat them, as they will be untrustworthy

Question 6

what are the people with negative labels more likely to have?

Answer 6

• lower self-image of themselves
• more likely to reject themselves
• person will go on to act in ways that fulfil the label and commit more criminal behaviour

Question 7

what is the effect of labels/labelling?

Answer 7

1. labels can affect individual’s self-concept (how we see ourselves) and lead to SFP
2. labels can affect way others treat you and may lead to SFP
3. society may label people according to the way others treat you and this may lead to SFP

Question 8

what is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 8

• a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true due to positive feedback between belief and behaviour

Question 9

how is a self-fulfilling prophecy created?

Answer 9

prophecy is set + expectation = prophecy is fulfilled

Question 10

who created the term self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 10

• described in 1948 by Robert Merton
• described “a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the originally false conception come true” (Merton 1948:477)

Question 11

what is a self-fulfilling prophecy in summary? give example

Answer 11

• when person unknowingly causes prediction to come true, due to simple fact that they expect it to come true
• e.g. expectation about subject can affect our behaviour toward subject, which causes expectation to be realised

Question 12

what is the pygmalion effect? (upgrade)

Question 13

how does Flanagan 2000 describe SFP?

Answer 13

• self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a prediction about another comes true simply because of the expectation

Question 14

what are the steps in the SFP?

Answer 14

step 1: perceiver has expectations of the target person
step 2: perceiver behaviour towards target
step 3: target behaviour towards the perceiver
therefore: prophecy is fulfilled

Question 15

supporting evidence for labelling theory and SFP (J + counter argument)

Answer 15

Jahoda 1954
- found males born on wednesday had significantly higher arrest rate (22%) than males born Monday (6%)
- SFP because boys born monday are named KWADWO (mild mannered) whereas boys born wednesday are named KWADKU (aggressive and short tempered)
- valid data as if comes from crime records
- however, not been replicated so this may just be one off

Question 16

supporting evidence for labelling theory and SFP (R & J + counter argument)

Answer 16

Rosenthal and Jacobson 1968
- found students labelled as bloomers had improved IQ scores and continued to thrive for next two years in comparison to other students in class
- suggests ‘prophecy’ came true because teachers responded differently to them
- study well controlled - children randomly allocated to each condition
- however, may be due to teacher’s beliefs they were being observed and felt they needed to act on information they were given
- educational setting rather **than crime*

Question 17

supporting evidence for labelling theory and SFP (C)

Answer 17

Chambliss 1973
- found roughnecks were more likely to be labelled deviant by police and more likely to have legal action taken against them
- saints were not supporting fact that labelling is part of the power structure

Question 18

other things for labelling theory and SFP (strength)

Answer 18

• Jahoda’s study collected quantitative data and focuses on criminal behaviour

Question 19

other things for labelling theory and SFP (weakness)

Answer 19

• Jahoda’s study is based on one culture (west africa) - culturally bound
• only focuses on males
• not replicated since 1950’s - time bound
• Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study only come from educational area

Question 20

opposing evidence for labelling theory and SFP (L)

Answer 20

Lemert 1962
- found cheque forgers had been forging cheques long before caught, so had been active before labelled, so self-image is not affected by label

Question 21

different theories for labelling theory and SFP (weakness)

Answer 21

• SLT (social learning theory)
• biological explanation (genetics, XYY syndrome, brain (amygdala))

Question 22

application for labelling theory and SFP (strength)

Answer 22

• Jahoda’s study helps understand criminal behaviour