THEORIES OF CRIME - INTERACTIONISM

Question 1

key points about interactionsm

Answer 1

reject crime stats
crime is a result of police judgements
explore how and why groups/individuals come to be defined as criminal/deviant in first place

Question 2

give four names to remember in interactionism

Answer 2

Becker - self-fulfilling prophecy
Lemert - types of deviance
Young - deviancy amplification
Cicourel - public concern

Question 3

Becker

Answer 3

master status is how someone sees you
self-fulfilling prophecy is when someone makes decisions based on deviant view
difficult to conform to society’s N+V after deviant activities
deviant career leads to deviant identity where deviance controls choice and lifestyle

Question 4

Lemert

Answer 4

society’s reaction to behaviour is more important
primary deviance - not publicly labelled, seen as acceptable and doesn’t impact someone’s self-concept
secondary deviance - consciously engages in deviant behaviour as an expression of a deviant self-concept

Question 5

Young

Answer 5

drug taking alienated youth seeked each other out and smoked weed
seen as threat by media, CJS and police
negative perceptions made them live up to label leading to more media coverage
public outcry and crackdown on youths

Question 6

Cicourel

Answer 6

police make judgements based on appearance, manners, replies
crime rates fluctuate depending on media publicity and public concern
agencies of social control create more policies and construct a picture of juvenile delinquents

Question 7

criticisms of interactionism

Answer 7

ignores social structures such as capitalism and patriarchy
doesn’t explain more serious crime
people can fight their label and have different reactions to this