labelling Flashcards
(9 cards)
Q: What is labelling theory?
A: The idea that no act is inherently criminal — it only becomes a crime once society labels it that way.
🔑 Based on interactionism (micro approach).
Who are the key labelling theorists?
Howard Becker (1963) – foundational labelling theory
Lemert (1951) – primary/secondary deviance
Cicourel (1968) – negotiation of justice
Jock Young (1971) – deviant amplification
Stan Cohen (1972) – moral panics
What did Howard Becker argue?
“Deviance is not the act itself, but the reaction to the act.”
Moral entrepreneurs (e.g. politicians, media) create and enforce labels.
Labels can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What is primary and secondary deviance? (Lemert)
Primary deviance: The initial act (often minor, not publicly labelled)
Secondary deviance: When the person is publicly labelled and starts to live up to the label – leads to a deviant career.
What is deviant amplification? (Jock Young)
A: When the reaction to deviance makes it worse.
🔑 Example: Hippy marijuana users in Notting Hill – police crackdown increased their sense of deviant identity.
What does Cicourel mean by ‘negotiation of justice’?
A: Justice is not fixed — middle-class youth are seen as “good boys” and often let off, while working-class youth are more likely to be criminalised.
What are the consequences of labelling?
Master status: The deviant label overrides all other aspects of identity.
Self-fulfilling prophecy: People internalise the label and act accordingly.
Can lead to exclusion, subcultures, and further crime.
How does labelling theory link to official crime stats?
A: Suggests official stats are socially constructed — reflect police bias and selective enforcement, not actual crime rates.
Criticisms of labelling theory?
❌ Ignores the original cause of the crime
❌ Deterministic – assumes everyone accepts labels
❌ Doesn’t explain why some groups are labelled and others aren’t (e.g. doesn’t fully explain power like Marxists do)
