Interactionism and Labelling theory Flashcards
(25 cards)
What did Cicourel believe?
Found m/c were able to negotiate the justice system better than the w/c.
What did Cicourel find about the criminal justice system?
Stereotypes impacted the criminal justice system’s decisions.
What did Cicourel’s findings in cities show about delinquency?
More consistent arrests and charges of delinquents in low income areas
What is a typical delinquent - Cicourel
An individual’s language, appearance and attitude were that of the typical delinquent so received harsher punishments.
What did Cicourel find about m/c delinquents?
Parents able to convince police their child was having a bad time and has a bright future.
Police convinced parents could deal with them so less likely to be charged.
Seen as lack of judgement rather than criminal intent.
Evaluate cicourel’s views:
Assumed that all members of the justice system label delinquents in the same way.
Offers limited explanations of why crimes are committed in the first place.
What did Becker find out?
Claimed that acts are only deviant because society deems them to be - individuals do not consider the act to be deviant.
Give example of how different actions and situations can differ in the definition of deviance:
In professional sports, hockey, a brawl is seen to be not deviant, rather just passion.
A highstreet brawl is seen as deviant.
How does labelling affect crime and deviance?
Once an activity is labelled as deviant, it is attached to the individual who may be labelled as ‘violent’ ‘a thief’ or a ‘junkie’
This then becomes their master status - one that overrides all characteristics and changes the way people interact with them.
How does Becker say labelling leads to formation of deviant subcultures?
Individual is labelled and faces blocked opportunities. self-fulfilling prophecy leads to identity in criminal careers, so find others with similar labels and work together to form subculture.
What is a master status and who says it?
Becker - a status that overrides all other characteristics and affects the way people interact with them.
What did Becker find out about Marijuana and labelling?
Marijuana usage in the 1930’s was deemed to be deviant - laws were created to stamp out the usage of marijuana as it went against traditional American values.
Evaluate Becker’s view on labelling:
+ focused on underdogs of society and gave greater understanding of how criminals were stigmatised
- didn’t explain why initial acts of crime occurred
- often sided with criminals rather than the ‘real’ victims of crime
What did Lemert focus on?
Social reactions to acts of deviance
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DEVIANCE
What is primary deviance and who says it?
Lemert - The acts people commit before they are labelled as deviant
Social reactions define whether the act is deviant or not
How did the reactions of society affect crime and deviance?
If the act is condemned by society, could lead to negative reactions such as rejection, disapproval or isolation.
Labelled and this becomes internalised
What is secondary deviance and who says it?
How the societal reaction (identifying someone as deviant) can impact their future crime rates
Label may affect employment opportunities so have to commit crime to gain status or financial gain
How can the label of a thief affect crime rates?
Once labelled a thief, people do not trust an individual so the individual needs to steal to satisfy basic needs
Evaluate Lemerts primary and secondary deviance theory:
Ideas are based upon soft determinism - acts at one point in time will affect their future deviance. deviance can often be overcome and is a phase
What is Cohens Mods and rockers theory?
Highlights media moral panics - two working class subcultures. both attended brighton and got in a minor brawl - media produced exaggerated reports on violence between the two which created panic in public
What is a moral entrepeneur?
Media was one of several agencies that enforce their morality onto others in society
What is a folk devil?
Oversimplified and ill-informed generalisations of individuals involved in deviant behaviour.
Media creations that are reinforced by the police by clamping down on said actions
What did Cohen say about deviancy amplification?
Noticed harsher policing against those deemed to be folk devils - lead to deviancy amplification
What is deviancy amplification?
Media highlighted there would be a sensational event drew more people into the area and then created more crime
