Crime - Labelling Theories

Question 1

What is labelling theory?

Answer 1

An interactionist or social action theory that takes a bottom-up approach to studying society.

Question 2

How do individuals define and interpret the world according to labelling theory?

Answer 2

Through the meanings or labels they attach to actions or individuals.

Question 3

What do labelling theorists focus on instead of the causes of crime?

Answer 3

How people react to and define actions as criminal or deviant.

Question 4

True or False: All individuals who commit criminal acts are caught and defined as such.

Answer 4

False.

Question 5

What is Becker’s assertion about deviance?

Answer 5

Deviance ‘exists in the eye of the beholder’.

Question 6

What determines whether an act is labeled as deviant according to Becker?

Answer 6

Societal reaction and how other people respond to the act.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: Becker suggests that an act only becomes deviant when _______.

Answer 7

others see it and define it as deviant.

Question 8

What is an example used to illustrate labelling theory?

Answer 8

A student stealing a book from the library and how different reactions lead to deviant labels.

Question 9

According to Becker, what is necessary for an act to be seen as deviant?

Answer 9

It must be defined as such by society.

Question 10

What does Becker suggest about the knowledge of deviance?

Answer 10

Many people know that what they are doing is deviant before it is labeled.

Question 11

What concept did Becker introduce related to the power to label deviance?

Answer 11

Moral entrepreneurs.

Question 12

Who are considered moral entrepreneurs?

Answer 12

Groups such as the media and the police with the power to create or enforce rules.

Question 13

How does the media contribute to the labelling of deviance?

Answer 13

By attaching deviant labels to cultural phenomena, such as drill music.

Question 14

What effect does media labeling have on drill artists?

Answer 14

They become perceived as folk devils or a threat to society.

Question 15

What is a drill in the context of the law?

Answer 15

A legal act, but performing a song can be deemed illegal by moral entrepreneurs.

Question 16

What happened to two drill artists in January 2019?

Answer 16

They received suspended prison sentences for performing a song deemed offensive.

Question 17

What themes did the song performed by the drill artists reference?

Answer 17

Murder, guns, and stabbing people.

Question 18

What order did the drill artists break by performing their song?

Answer 18

A Criminal Behaviour Order forbidding mentions of death, injury, or rival drill crews.

Question 19

What does Becker point out regarding the labelling process?

Answer 19

The issue of power in the labelling process.

Question 20

What do Marxists argue about deviant labels?

Answer 20

They are the result of social class inequalities in Capitalist society.

Question 21

What concept does Cicourel introduce regarding justice?

Answer 21

The ‘negotiation of justice’.

Question 22

How does social context influence the application of labels according to Cicourel?

Answer 22

It affects who is performing the act and how the criminal justice system responds.

Question 23

What stereotype do police have about the ‘typical delinquent’?

Answer 23

Working class, deprived backgrounds.

Question 24

How do police view middle class youths compared to working class youths?

Answer 24

Middle class youths are seen as coming from good backgrounds; working class youths are viewed as deviant.

Question 25

What is the effect of police stereotypes on working class youths?

Answer 25

They concentrate on working class youths, creating a class bias.

Question 26

What is the typical outcome for middle class offenders in the justice system?

Answer 26

They are often treated leniently; cases may be dropped or they receive warnings.

Question 27

What happens to working class offenders compared to middle class offenders?

Answer 27

They face more formal action, often charged and given harsher sentences.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: Cicourel argues that the label of delinquency is attached to _______ youths but not middle class youths.

Answer 28

working class

Question 29

What was unique about the case of the millionaire's daughter during the 2011 riots?

Answer 29

She received a higher sentence due to her privileged background.

Question 30

True or False: The negotiation of justice always works in favor of the rich.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

What was the sentence received by the millionaire's daughter for her actions?

Answer 31

2 years in jail.

Question 32

What does the case of the millionaire's daughter illustrate about the application of labels?

Answer 32

It shows how social context influences the application of a label.

Question 33

What is primary deviance?

Answer 33

Deviance that has not been labelled as deviant ## Footnote Examples include breaking traffic laws, using illegal drugs, or downloading child pornography without being discovered.

Question 34

What is secondary deviance?

Answer 34

Deviance that occurs after a person has been discovered and publicly labelled as deviant ## Footnote An example is the stigma attached to individuals caught downloading child pornography.

Question 35

What does Lemert argue about the causes of deviant behaviour?

Answer 35

He does not explain the causes that precede the labelling process ## Footnote For instance, Cohen argues that young men may smoke cannabis to look cool and gain status among peers.

Question 36

What is meant by 'master status' in the context of deviance?

Answer 36

A deviant label that becomes the primary identity of a person, overshadowing other identities ## Footnote For example, a person caught downloading child pornography may only be seen as a 'paedophile'.

Question 37

How can a deviant label affect opportunities for individuals?

Answer 37

It can block legitimate opportunities, leading to a deviant career ## Footnote For example, a labelled 'crook' may struggle to find employment due to mistrust.

Question 38

What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to labelling?

Answer 38

When individuals internalize their label and act according to it, often leading to further deviance ## Footnote For instance, a person labelled as a 'thief' may steal more because they believe they are a thief.

Question 39

True or False: Primary deviance is always known and labelled by society.

Answer 39

False ## Footnote Primary deviance occurs when the deviant acts are not known or labelled.

Question 40

Fill in the blank: A deviant label may become a _______ status.

Answer 40

master

Question 41

What societal reaction occurs to individuals labelled as deviant?

Answer 41

They become 'outsiders' ## Footnote This can lead to blocked opportunities and potential criminal behavior.

Question 42

What is the impact of labeling on deviance?

Answer 42

Labeling does not always lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy and can reduce deviance ## Footnote An example is a shoplifter who, after being caught, may never want to shoplift again.

Question 43

Define moral panic in the context of deviance.

Answer 43

A wave of public concern generated by exaggerated media coverage of individuals or groups with a deviant label ## Footnote Those labeled as deviant are often seen as folk devils and scapegoats.

Question 44

What are 'folk devils'?

Answer 44

Individuals or groups presented by the media as a threat to society ## Footnote They are often blamed for social problems.

Question 45

What is deviancy amplification?

Answer 45

The process by which media coverage and police action worsen deviant behavior ## Footnote This occurs as people become caught up in the excitement of events.

Question 46

What did Cohen study regarding mods and rockers?

Answer 46

Media coverage of the mods and rockers during Easter weekend 1964 in Clacton ## Footnote This included scuffles, stone throwing, and the exaggeration of violence.

Question 47

How did media coverage affect the mods and rockers?

Answer 47

It created a moral panic, leading to police crackdowns and increased deviance ## Footnote Young people traveled to join in the violence after watching events on T.V.

Question 48

Fill in the blank: The media's exaggerated coverage of deviance can lead to _______.

Answer 48

deviancy amplification

Question 49

True or False: Police action can sometimes reduce deviance.

Answer 49

False ## Footnote Police action often amplifies deviance instead.

Question 50

What effect do moral panics have on public demand?

Answer 50

They increase public demand for harsher measures against those labeled as deviant ## Footnote This includes heavier policing and higher fines.

Question 51

How can media reports about drill artists affect knife crime in London?

Answer 51

They can turn drill artists into folk devils and scapegoats for knife crime ## Footnote This can lead to police actions that incite more violence among rival gangs.

Question 52

What is the relationship between media coverage and societal response to deviance?

Answer 52

Exaggerated media coverage can lead to moral panic and harsher societal responses ## Footnote This can create a cycle of increased deviance and public concern.