6: Interactionism and the Media

Who are interactionsists?

Definitions of normality and deviance are a social construction

Same act can be interpreted in different ways

Deviance is relative and depends on a person’s individual point of view

Interactionism - Young people are more likely to be labelled as deviant - Howard Becker: Labelling Theory

Most people are deviant but only some people are caught and stigmatised

The process of labelling is important to young people/ those involved with subcultures as they are most likely to be labelled and get embroiled in criminal justice system as a result

Becker - deviancy is not a quality but a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an ‘offender’

Howard Becker’s process of labelling

1. Young person commits deviant behaviour

2. Caught by moral entrepreneur

3. Labelled as deviant by police

4. If label is successfully applied it will become a master status and overrule other labels

5. Individual may have ‘power to reject’ the label and negociate

AO3 to Young people are more likely to be labelled as deviant - Akers (Functionalist)

Strongly criticises labelling theorists for the way he claims they present deviants as being normal people

There must be a reason to explain why the label is applied to certain groups

If labelling doesn’t explain this then it is an incomplete theory

Phillips and Bowling - Interactionist - Labelling youth may lead to a self fulfilling prophecy

Use concepts from labelling theory to understand the high crime rates among young black people

Negative treatment by criminal justice system may lead some members of black communities to feel hostile towards the police

Self-fulfilling prophecy

AO3 to Labelling youth may lead to a self fulfilling prophecy - Marxists

Labelling theory does not address the route causes

Issue of differences of power between groups

Makes some more able to get laws passed and enforced

Becker defends: accepts that there are differences in power and that it is the role of he sociologist to side with the underdog

However P + B still fail to suggest why police may be more likely to label some ethnic groups more than other

Marxists believe the police are controlled by the bourgeoise and so create scapegoats to distract from the problems of capitalism

Cohen (Interactionist) - The media can increase deviancy in youth subcultures

Cohen looked at the societal reaction to disturbances involving mods and rockers which took place in Clacton over Easter bank holiday, 1964

Mass media represented this as a confrontation between rival gangs, but Cohen discovered the amount of serious violence and vandalism was exaggerated

Media produced a distorted picture of what went on

Media coverage led to considerable public concern with mods and rockers

Deviancy amplification spiral

Moral panic generated

AO3 to The media can increase deviancy in youth subcultures - Jock Young

Criticizes the concept of a moral panic because it implies that crime is largely constructed by the media

Media may exaggerate but does not create

Left realists argue the media reflects real public concerns