Interactionism Theories Flashcards
How does Becker explain CRIME?
- no act is deviant in itself -deviance is a “social construct”
- an act only becomes criminal or deviant when others label it as such
- powerful groups create rules/laws in order to define what counts as a crime
- those who fail to conform to these social controls are criminals/outsiders
How is Becker’s explanation useful to understanding of CRIME?
-explains how people can develop a self-fulfilling prophecy and a master status – through internalising their label.
How is Becker’s explanation NOT useful to understanding of CRIME?
- some think too deterministic
- assumes that once labelled, a self-fulfilling prophecy is inevitable.
How does Cicourel explain CRIME?
- criminal label is negotiable
- stage 1: police stereotypes & social context
- stage 2: if arrested, do they fit “typical delinquent”? Factors such as ethnicity & social class impact this
How is Cicourel’s explanation useful to understanding of CRIME?
- agents of social control may cause crime
- people try to rebel against stereotypes they are labelled with
How is Cicourel’s explanation NOT useful to understanding of CRIME?
-limited explanations of why crime is committed in the first place, before labelling
How does Lemert explain CRIME?
- primary deviance: insignificant acts, not been publicly labelled, don’t see themselves as criminal
- secondary deviance: after being publicly labelled are excluded from society and can develop a master status
How is Lemert’s explanation useful to understanding of CRIME?
- why people commit further crime
- isolated, so seek comfort and status from people in same position
- deviant subculture offers temptation and opportunities
How is Lemert’s explanation NOT useful to understanding of CRIME?
- focuses on secondary deviance
- doesn’t explain why primary deviance exists
How does Young explain CRIME?
- police label hippies as “lazy drug users”
- internalise label
- isolated from society for being different
- reinforce label by taking more drugs
- drugs = symbol of defying police
- develop master status
How is Young explanation useful to understanding of CRIME?
-agents of control try controlling crime, which makes it worse
How is Young’s explanation NOT useful to understanding of CRIME?
- offender can have “victim status”
- realists say this ignores actual victims of crime
How does Cohen explain CRIME?
- attempting to control deviance causes more deviance
- done by police, media, courts
How is Cohen’s explanation useful to understanding of CRIME?
- agents of social control make situation worse
- more crime & labels
How is Young’s explanation NOT useful to understanding of CRIME?
- left realists say LB over-romanticise crime
- neglects victims
- blames agents of social control
