Interactionism
24 February 2021 09:10
Reject crime stats as a realistic reflection of criminal activity
^- are the result of a series of assumptions made by agencies of social control such as the police
- Interested in seeking to explain - why those with the social characteristics of a 'typical criminal' are more
prone to crime
- Interested in - exploring why particular groups/ individuals come to be defined as criminal - 'micro approach'
Study - Howard Becker - studies in the sociology of deviance
- deviance is constructed
- Social groups create deviance by making rules & apply those to particular people b& labelling them as
outsiders. Social groups - create particular -apply those to particular people
- Deviant = individual whom the label has been successfully applied
- The deviant cannot be studied to reach explanation of deviance - as they've been wrongly labelled
Master Status and the self-fulfilling prophecy
- Deviant label can become a 'master status'
- Some will respond to the individual in terms of the label and interpret any behaviours in relation to the Master status + self-fulfilling prophecy
label. = deviant identity becomes the controlling one for the individual - The individual starts to identify with the label, and it starts
Activity to control them.
○ Deviant
○ Normal
○ Unusual
○ Normal
an African- American living in the unites states, where racism is prevalent, may be viewed as a ‘black
man’ before an individual having any other identity.
- Labelled in a particular way = likely to internalise that label. - affect their self-concept
- May start to live up to that label - make decisions based on the deviant self-concept - fulfils the assumption Internalise the label
made about them. - Live up to that label
- Deviant label becoming master status = difficult to remain unaffected - may be isolated from others & - Make decisions based on the deviant self-
judged differently. - difficult to conform to many of society's other rules like holding down a job concept
- 'deviant career' - individual joins deviant group/subculture = may rationalise justify & support deviant - Controlling factor
identities and activities. = more likely to see themselves a deviant. =
- 'deviant identity' - becomes the controlling factor - affects person's life choices.
- Plummer (1996) - deviant career - applied to notion - 'master status' - internalise the label and start to
pursue a 'homosexual career' - homosexual subculture - gay venues
-
The impact of public labelling
- Becker - behaviour only become deviant when it has been defined and labelled as such.
- Anthropologist study - Malinowski (1966) - activity [Becker uses this study to illustrate point] The impact of public labelling
- ^- Trobriand Islands - incest between cousins was deviant but it was overlooked day-to-day. Man only killed Malinoswski - incest study - cousins - was only a problem
himself when he was publicly shamed when the public got involved.
- Becker states - it was only when a public accusation was made that the behaviour became a serious issue
- 1 - it only became a problem when it was publicly spoken about
- Lemert (1951) - argues : societal reaction to behaviour is more significant that the behaviour itself
- 'primary deviance' - refers to deviant acts which are not publicly labelled.
- If the deviant behaviour is repetitive and highly & attracts a severe societal reaction = will begin to affect
the individual's self-concept.
- ' a person beginning to employ his deviant behaviour. Based on a means of defence.. his deviation is
secondary'
Activity - Lemert and secondary deviance
○ Secondary deviance - a result of a process of:
○ Primary deviation
○ Societal penalties
○ Further primary deviation
○ Stronger penalties and rejections
○ Strengthening of the deviant conduct as a reaction to the stigmatising and penalties.
- Matza (1964) - argued - many youths will drift in and out of deviance.
- Moral obligation to the law. - feel pressure to pursue 'subterranean values' - challenges morally acceptable
values.
- Youth committing deviant act - will use 'techniques of neutralisation' - justifies the act - prevents a deviant
activity= allows them to drift back into legitimate activities & preserve their identity as a decent person. 'techniques of neutralisation' - justifies the act - allows
- 5 techniques of neutralisation: them to preserve their identify as a decent person
○ Denial of responsibility - arguing that the behaviour was not with the individuals control ' wasn't my
fault'
○ Denial of injury - arguing that the deviant did not do no harm
○ Denial of victim - arguing victim deserved what happened
○ Condemnation of the condemners - arguing that those labelling the behaviour are in the wrong or are
being hypocritical.
○ Appeal to higher loyalties - arguing - friendship, family or profit were behind their behaviour.
24 February 2021 09:10
Reject crime stats as a realistic reflection of criminal activity
^- are the result of a series of assumptions made by agencies of social control such as the police
- Interested in seeking to explain - why those with the social characteristics of a 'typical criminal' are more
prone to crime
- Interested in - exploring why particular groups/ individuals come to be defined as criminal - 'micro approach'
Study - Howard Becker - studies in the sociology of deviance
- deviance is constructed
- Social groups create deviance by making rules & apply those to particular people b& labelling them as
outsiders. Social groups - create particular -apply those to particular people
- Deviant = individual whom the label has been successfully applied
- The deviant cannot be studied to reach explanation of deviance - as they've been wrongly labelled
Master Status and the self-fulfilling prophecy
- Deviant label can become a 'master status'
- Some will respond to the individual in terms of the label and interpret any behaviours in relation to the Master status + self-fulfilling prophecy
label. = deviant identity becomes the controlling one for the individual - The individual starts to identify with the label, and it starts
Activity to control them.
○ Deviant
○ Normal
○ Unusual
○ Normal
an African- American living in the unites states, where racism is prevalent, may be viewed as a ‘black
man’ before an individual having any other identity.
- Labelled in a particular way = likely to internalise that label. - affect their self-concept
- May start to live up to that label - make decisions based on the deviant self-concept - fulfils the assumption Internalise the label
made about them. - Live up to that label
- Deviant label becoming master status = difficult to remain unaffected - may be isolated from others & - Make decisions based on the deviant self-
judged differently. - difficult to conform to many of society's other rules like holding down a job concept
- 'deviant career' - individual joins deviant group/subculture = may rationalise justify & support deviant - Controlling factor
identities and activities. = more likely to see themselves a deviant. =
- 'deviant identity' - becomes the controlling factor - affects person's life choices.
- Plummer (1996) - deviant career - applied to notion - 'master status' - internalise the label and start to
pursue a 'homosexual career' - homosexual subculture - gay venues
-
The impact of public labelling
- Becker - behaviour only become deviant when it has been defined and labelled as such.
- Anthropologist study - Malinowski (1966) - activity [Becker uses this study to illustrate point] The impact of public labelling
- ^- Trobriand Islands - incest between cousins was deviant but it was overlooked day-to-day. Man only killed Malinoswski - incest study - cousins - was only a problem
himself when he was publicly shamed when the public got involved.
- Becker states - it was only when a public accusation was made that the behaviour became a serious issue
- 1 - it only became a problem when it was publicly spoken about
- Lemert (1951) - argues : societal reaction to behaviour is more significant that the behaviour itself
- 'primary deviance' - refers to deviant acts which are not publicly labelled.
- If the deviant behaviour is repetitive and highly & attracts a severe societal reaction = will begin to affect
the individual's self-concept.
- ' a person beginning to employ his deviant behaviour. Based on a means of defence.. his deviation is
secondary'
Activity - Lemert and secondary deviance
○ Secondary deviance - a result of a process of:
○ Primary deviation
○ Societal penalties
○ Further primary deviation
○ Stronger penalties and rejections
○ Strengthening of the deviant conduct as a reaction to the stigmatising and penalties.
- Matza (1964) - argued - many youths will drift in and out of deviance.
- Moral obligation to the law. - feel pressure to pursue 'subterranean values' - challenges morally acceptable
values.
- Youth committing deviant act - will use 'techniques of neutralisation' - justifies the act - prevents a deviant
activity= allows them to drift back into legitimate activities & preserve their identity as a decent person. 'techniques of neutralisation' - justifies the act - allows
- 5 techniques of neutralisation: them to preserve their identify as a decent person
○ Denial of responsibility - arguing that the behaviour was not with the individuals control ' wasn't my
fault'
○ Denial of injury - arguing that the deviant did not do no harm
○ Denial of victim - arguing victim deserved what happened
○ Condemnation of the condemners - arguing that those labelling the behaviour are in the wrong or are
being hypocritical.
○ Appeal to higher loyalties - arguing - friendship, family or profit were behind their behaviour.
