Interactionist Theories of C&D

Question 1

Labelliing & Crime

Answer 1

• Interested in how/why certain acts come to be defined/labelled as criminal
• Acts only become criminal when others label it as such
• It is not the nature of the act that makes it deviant - the nature of society’s reaction

Question 2

Moral Relativism

Answer 2

No act is inherently criminal or deviant in itself in all situations, and at all times

Question 3

Becker (1963)

Answer 3

‘Social groups create deviance by creating rules whose infraction creates deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders’

Question 4

Primary Labelling

Answer 4

• Acts seen as ‘one-off’ or mistake (short term)
• eg. Friend is caught speeding but usually a safe driver
• ‘They did a bad thing, but they’re not bad people’

Question 5

Secondary Labelling

Answer 5

• Repeated acts seen as indicators of bad character (permanent)
• Someone posts counterfeit goods for sale every week
• ‘They’re a bad person’

Question 6

Power Relationships: Becker (1963)

Answer 6

• ‘Deviant’ label is almost always given by powerful person to weak person
• Usually label people we regard as below us in the social hierarchy
• Might explain why rich and famous get away with a lot more than most (eg. tax evasion)

Question 7

Moral Entrepeneurship

Answer 7

• Moral entrepeneurs - people or organisations that can apply powerful labes (eg. TNCs, Celebrities)
• Appeal to your morality and attempt to present opponents as immoral - if successful, target acquires secondary deviance label
• eg. Mothers agaisnt drink driving

Question 8

Deviancy Amplification

Answer 8

• Bad labels make others treat criminals poorly
• Makes them resentful and makes their acts more serious/aggressive

Question 9

Wilkins (1964): Deviancy Amplification Spiral

Answer 9

1. Primary Deviance
2. Isolation & Alienation (due to Moral Entrepeneurs)
3. Increased Social Reaction (due to labelling)
4. Secondary Deviance
5. Social Reaction
6. Increased Deviance
7. Repeat

Question 10

Cicourel (1976): What’s the problem for society?

Answer 10

• Selective law enforcement - studies arrests in California
• Police arrested more poor/ethnic minority people (75%)
• MC 3x more likely to be cautioned and released

Question 11

Positives of Labelling Theory

Answer 11

Emphasises:
* Law isn’t set in stone - changes over time
* Discriminatory law enforcement
* We cannot trust crime stats
* Attempts to control crime can backfire
* Agents of social control may actually be one of the major causes of crime - should think twice about giving more power

Question 12

Negatives of Labelling Theory

Answer 12

• Overly deterministic - not all accept label
• Assumes offenders are passive - ignores personal choice in crime
• Gives offenders ‘victim status’ - ignores real victims
• Emphasises negatives of labelling - ignore positives
• Fails to explain why acts of primary deviance exists
• Structural sociologists - there are deeper, structural explanations of crime