Labelling Theories of Crime and Deviance

Social Construction

• Social phenomena are created by society, not naturally occurring through evolution.

Relativity of Crime and Deviance (Becker)

• Contextual: Nudity varies; acceptability depends on the situation.

• Historical Period: Homosexuality and opium use have varied in acceptance over time.

• Cultural: Drinking alcohol has different acceptance levels in Saudi Arabia and the UK.

• Generational: Ideas of what is normal change between age groups.

Moral Entrepreneurs

• Individuals who decide what is morally acceptable within society.

• Examples include:

  • Ruling Class

  • Governments

  • Lawmakers

Labelling Process

• Thinker: Lemert

  • Primary Deviance:

    • A person commits a deviant/criminal act that is unknown to others, so no label is attached.

  • Secondary Deviance:

    • The deviant act is witnessed, and a label is attached to the person committing the act.

Cicourel

• Labelling leads to selective law enforcement and negotiation of justice.

• When a group is labelled as deviant/criminal, the police are likely to focus on that group, reinforcing the stereotype.

• Typifications: Common sense theories and stereotypes of what is a “typical criminal”.

Agencies of Social Control

• Formal:

  • Police

  • Criminal Justice System

  • Courts

• Informal:

  • Peers

  • Society

Consequences of Labelling

• Self-fulfilling prophecy:

  • Once labelled as deviant, a person internalises the label and acts accordingly.

• Deviancy Amplification:

  • Attempts to control deviance lead to greater amounts of that deviance.

    • Examples:

      • Stan Cohen’s Mods and Rockers

      • Jock Young’s study of cannabis smokers in Notting Hill

• Master Status:

  • The individual is identified by a particular aspect, like being a criminal.

  • This can lead to a deviant or criminal career as the label prevents access to legitimate means of achieving social goals.

Evaluation of Labelling Theory

• Strengths:

  • Emphasises the social construction of crime and deviance.

  • Identifies the role of the powerful in defining crime and deviance.

  • Shows how deviant careers can be established.

• Limitations:

  • The deviant becomes the victim and is not to blame for the behaviour.

  • Deterministic (assumes labelling inevitably leads to deviance).

  • Doesn’t explain why people commit the original act of deviance.

  • Doesn't explain where stereotypes come from.