Crime: The Effects of labelling - Lemert & Young, Cohen

Primary Deviance (Lemert)

Deviant acts that have not been publicly labelled, pointless to seek causes as it so widespread it is unable to have a single cause.

Secondary Deviance (Lemert)

The result of a societal reaction, becomes a master status e.g. theif, junkie, paedophile

Young - Hippies in Notting Hill

Studied hippie, marijuana users in Notting hill, drugs were initially peripheral to hippies’ lifestyle (primary deviance), prosecution and labelling by control culture (police) led hippies to see themselves as outsiders. This caused them to retreat into closed groups, began to develop deviant subculture, drugs became central activity, this caused more attention from the police, became self-fulfilling prophecy and master status.

Deviance amplification spiral ADD MORE NOTES

An attempt to control deviance leads to more deviance e.g. if there is a moral panic about something this effectively advertises it

Moral panics (Cohen)

Study on societal reaction to ‘mods and rockers’, disturbances with youths at English seaside resorts, press exaggeration and distorted reporting of events led to moral panic. Police arrested more youths and courts gave harsher penalties, confirmed original media reaction and created more public concern, spiral of deviance.

Folk Devils vs ‘Dark Figure’ (Cohen)

Folk devils believes to be something harmful to society, folk devils are over-exposed to public view and attentions of authorities, pursuit of folk devils by law enforcement and justice system takes resources away from punishing crimes that make up the dark figure e.g. crimes of the powerful.

Evaluation of Young (Downes & Rock)

We can’t predict whether someone who has been labelled will follow a deviant career because they’re always free to choose not to deviate further.