Labelling In Education

Question 1

Labelling in crime

Answer 1

Once an activity is labelled as deviant, the label becomes attached to the individual

• based on the initial deviant action, the individual may be labelled as ‘violent’ or a ‘thief’
• this then becomes their master status - one that overrides all other characteristics

Question 2

Consequences of labelling

Answer 2

1. Individual is labelled as deviant
2. Blocked opportunities
3. Further deviance - deviant

Question 3

Acts are only deviant because society deems them to be

Answer 3

Becker

- a brawl in professional sports isn’t sen as deviant but if it happened on the high street it would

Question 4

Evaluation of Becker

Answer 4

Focuses on the ‘underdogs of society which gave society a greater understanding of how criminals were stigmatised

• did little to explain why initial acts of crime occurred
• often sided with criminals rather than ‘real’ victims