Labelling theory of crime Flashcards
Why do interpretivists argue that criminals are not characteristically different from others?
because crime is a social construct so what’s considered a crime depends on time and place
How did Becker challenge the view that sociologists should study was causes crime?
- Becker says its the reaction of others that makes you recognise your behaviour as deviant
- Becker says we should look at how an act is labelled as deviant by wider society, as the same behaviour can have different reactions depending on time and place
What is Becker’s idea of a self concept?
we form our identity by interpreting how others respond to us
What is Becker’s idea of a deviant career?
if someone is shamed by their behaviour, they may return to crime to escape from the feeling of rejection, which reinforces the label.
What is a master status?
it is hard to remove the label of being criminal e.g on release from prison people find it hard to find work
What is reintergrative shaming/labelling?
Braithwaite - only the act is labelled criminal so the individual has a chance to rejoin society
What is primary deviance?
Lemert - a criminal act that most people commit in their lives, an initial criminal act, only becomes significant when society labels it
What is secondary deviance?
when the individual feels the pressure of their primary deviance being labelled by society, they return to more crime which reinforces the label
