Labelling Theory

Question 1

The social construction of deviance

Answer 1

Becker says that rules are created to label people as ‘outsiders’, someone only becomes a criminal once they have committed a crime, such as shoplifting, creating a group of outsiders

Question 2

The social construction of deviance evaluation

Answer 2

Fails to locate the origin of such labels

Question 3

Differential enforcement

Answer 3

Police are likely to arrest people based on certain typification’s, such as age, class or gender, black males are 7 times more likely to be stopped and search than white males

Question 4

Differential enforcement evaluation

Answer 4

This ignores the real victims of crime

Question 5

Typification’s

Answer 5

Cicourel says that individuals fitting stereotypes are more likely to be arrested, working class and ethnic minority juveniles are more likely to be arrested than middle class, with connections to lawyers and parents who can negotiate justice

Question 6

Typification’s evaluation

Answer 6

It is actually marginalisation that leads to more crime, left realists say

Question 7

Self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 7

Being labelled can cause an individual to fall into their label, such as if the working class are labelled as criminal, they will begin to accept their status

Question 8

Self fulfilling prophecy evaluation

Answer 8

Right realists say it is instead due to poor socialisation

Question 9

Deviance amplification spiral

Answer 9

An attempt to control deviance leads to a negative spiral. Such as Cohen’s study of mods and rockers, media exaggeration and distortion created a moral panic and more were arrested

Question 10

Deviance amplification spiral evaluation

Answer 10

This doesn’t explain the root causes of crime