Chapter 8 - Labelling Theory

Question 1

What are the Basic Principles of Labelling Theory?

Answer 1

• also known as societal reaction school
• deviance attributed by those who react to behaviour
• NOT concerned with motivation for deviant behaviour

Question 2

What are the Social Events for Labelling Theory?

Answer 2

• Civil rights movement (inequality, segregation, protests, demonstrations, urban riots)
• Great society programs
• distrust of government

Question 3

What is the Intellectual Heritage of Labelling theory?

Answer 3

• Chicago schools’ symbolic interactionalism
• Critique of UCR
• Development of self-report methods

Question 4

Assumptions of labelling perspective

Answer 4

• Reactionary: revolt against traditional views that lower class kids had all the problems
• Questioned the legitimacy and motives of CJS

Question 5

Two books by howard becker

Answer 5

o The other side
o Outsiders

Question 6

Howard Becker – outsiders

Answer 6

• Who can make and enfoce rules is a benefit of power:
  —> usually, Moral entrepreneurs – vested interest in rules (rule creators and rule enforcers)

Question 7

Who is Emily murphy?

Answer 7

• Canadian moral entrepreneur
• Advocated the need to change Canadian narcotics laws
• Contributed to the criminalization of marijuana in 1923

Question 8

What is Becker’s typology of deviant behaviour?

Answer 8

1. Falsely Accused - Someone who is obedient but is perceived to be deviant
2. Pure deviant- Someone who breaks rules and is perceived to be deviant
   –> Example; Murderer -> bully in highschool -> criminal - always been deviant
3. Conforming - someone who is not perceived as deviant and is actually obedient
4. Secret deviant - Someone who is not perceived to be deviant but is actually breaking the rules

Question 9

What are the Two forms of labelling theory?

Answer 9

• societal reaction
  o How and who labels are applied to
  o How labels affect them
• secondary deviance:
  o What the label means to the person being labeled
  o How labels create further deviant behaviour

Question 10

Labelling: societal reaction focus

Answer 10

• De-emphasizes criminal focus on agencies (police, courts, corrections processing)
• Realized that labelling delinquents causes STIGMA and subsequent negative events

Question 11

What Factors affect reaction?

Answer 11

o The time when act is committed (historically, like flag burning, smoking pot or adultery)
o Who commits act, who is victim
o Society’s perceptions of consequences of act (such as drinking and driving)

Question 12

Secondary deviance comes from 2 sources

Answer 12

1. Feedback from society:
   a. Retrospective interpretation: re examine previous behaviour and make label fit person today
2. Weak self-concept: person accepts labels their identity

Question 13

Beckers concept of master status

Answer 13

• labels that exceeds all other traits and qualities
• Labels are not all the same, some are more dominant than others
• transforms their identity
  —> no matter what else they do, they will always be “ex-con” “criminal” “murderer”
• Lose previous identity
  —> as “senator” “mom” “baseball player”
  —> Examples: joe paterno, bill Cosby