Labelling Theories of Crime Flashcards

1
Q

What does Becker argue about the social construction of crime?

A

No act is inherently deviant in itself - it only becomes deviant when others label it as such

A deviant is simply someone who has been labelled in that way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does Becker argue about moral entrepreneurs?

A

Moral entrepreneurs lead a ‘moral crusade’ to change a law

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the consequences of moral entrepreneurs?

A

Creates more outsiders: people who are outside the law

Expands the activities of social control agents such as the police, courts etc. to enforce laws and impose labels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Who gets labelled as deviant?

A

Labels aren’t applied equally

Not everyone who commits an offence will be punished

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does being labelled as deviant depend on?

A

How they interact with the police, courts etc

Their appearance, background, history

The circumstances of the offence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does Cicourel argue about the police and stereotypes?

A

Argue the police hold stereotypes (or typification) of the typical delinquent

e.g. low-income backgrounds, broken homes, poor education etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does Cicourel argue about youths from low-income backgrounds?

A

Youths from these backgrounds were more likely to be arrested and charged by the police because they fit the typical delinquent image

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does Cicourel argue about offenders from middle-class backgrounds?

A

Offenders from middle-class backgrounds were less likely to be prosecuted for the same offence because they didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a typical delinquent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does Lemert argue the primary and secondary labels of deviance are?

A

Primary deviance is not publically labelled

Secondary deviance is publically labelled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does Lemert argue secondary deviance leads to?

A

Leads to a societal reaction

i.e. society labels the individual as a deviant and this leads to more deviant behaviour, therefore, publically labelling a deviant leads to more deviance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does Young argue societal reaction of labelling leads to?

A

Argue societal reaction to labelling can lead to a master status

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does Young argue master status is?

A

The main status or identity that person has in the eyes of others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does Young argue master status affects an individual?

A

The individual also starts to see themselves in that way, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy and emphasising their identity as an outsider

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does Young argue a self-fulfilling prophecy from labelling lead to?

A

Can lead to a deviant career as the individual finds it harder to secure work so may become part of a deviant subculture, confirming their criminal label

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does Young’s study show about attempts to control deviance?

A

Shows that attempts to control deviance can cause more deviance

Creating deviancy amplification, rather than preventing it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does deviancy amplification cause?

A

Devicany amplification = more deviance and more deviants

17
Q

What are the criticisms of labelling theory?

A

Labelling theory shows how agents of social control can create deviance rather than controlling it

Shows how some social groups are more likely to be labelled as deviant than others

Doesn’t explain why the individual committed the crime that led to the deviant label

Ignores the victims of crime

Too deterministic and assumes that once labelled, a self-fulfilling prophecy is created

Marxists argue it ignores who has the power to define actions as deviant