interactionism theory-crime

How do interactionists view the social construction of crime?

An act only becomes deviant when it is labelled as such through societal reaction, rather than being inherently deviant.

Is every deviant act or criminal labelled, according to interactionists?

When an individual is labelled as deviant, the label becomes their dominant identity, overriding other aspects of who they are.

According to Becker, what is the social construction of crime?

A deviant is someone to whom the label has been successfully applied; deviant behaviour is simply behaviour that society labels as such. Labelling often depends on gender, class, and ethnicity.

What are Cicourel’s officer typifications?

Police hold stereotypes of the “typical criminal,” causing them to focus on groups more likely to offend, e.g., patrolling working-class areas, which reinforces labelling.

What is Lemert’s contribution to labelling theory?

He distinguished between primary deviance (initial deviant acts that go unlabelled) and secondary deviance (acts that result from being labelled, often leading to a deviant identity)

What is reintegrative shaming, according to Braithwaite?

Punishment that condemns the act but reintegrates the offender into society, strengthening their bonds and reducing the likelihood of further deviance.

What is disintegrative shaming, according to Braithwaite?

Punishment that stigmatizes and isolates the offender, often leading to secondary deviance and a deviant identity.

What is Douglas’s view on official suicide statistics?

He rejects their use, arguing that whether a death is labelled as a suicide depends on the social context and the meanings attributed by those recording it.