Labelling Theory/ Interactionist

What does the labeling theory state?

no act is deviant or criminal

When does an act become criminal or deviant?

when we create rules and apply them to others

According to the labeling theory, what must we do to understand criminality?

we must focus on how certain actions and people get labelled as criminals in the first place.

What do interactionists argue about social control groups succh as the police?

label certain groups as criminals

What did Piliavin and Briar find that police decisions on arresting people were based on?

stereotypical ideas about a persons:

• Class

• Gender

• Dress

• Ethnicity

• Manner

What does Lemert argue/state/believe?

• labelling is a cause of crime and deviance

• By labelling certain people as deviant , society encourage them to become more so

What are the 2 types of deviance Lemert says?

Primary & Secondary