Interactionist theory on crime and deviance

Is a micro-level understanding based on how individuals act and react to their social environment

The approach revolves around the concept of social construction and the way society labels and reacts to behaviours

Labelling theory (Becker)

• Argues that people commit crime due a consequence of being labelled

• Say that once a person is labelled as criminal or deviant then start to incorporate this leading to SFP

• Labelling also leads to a reaction which further pushes deviance

Influence on criminal behaviour

• Interactionists argue laws are not equally enforced leading to differential justice, whether an act is labelled as criminal or deviant often depends on the actors social standing or profile

• The social status of the offender as well as the reactions of the audience play a large part in the labelling process

• Nature of contact with authorities and its frequency can have an impact on whether someone’s labelled as criminal or deviant

Deviance amplification (Cohen)

• Says that societal reaction, media exaggeration often leads to an increased level of deviant behaviour

• This societal reactions can create ‘folk devils’ which lead to a moral panic. Leads to more further labelling and increase in deviance causing a deviance amplification spiral

Criticisms-

• Overemphasises the role of labelling and neglecting the influence of structural factors on criminal behaviour

• Seems to excuse criminals by blaming society’s labels for crimes rather than individuals committing the actions

• Not all labelled people turn to crime