15 th November How labelling theory affects the individual

4. Self-fulfilling prophecy – whether the label was true or not we act in accordance with it. This confirms peoples beliefs about the label being true. Labelling process 1.A label is attached by police and courts. 2. Label becomes a master status – overrides other status as sibling, friend etc. 3. The labelled person accepts the label – because how we see ourselves relies on how others see us.

Cooley: ‘Looking-glass self’ ube.com/watch? v=6E66iDghFk ghttp:// ube.com/watch? v=6E66iDghFk g Interactionism explained

The effects of labelling Influences the self-concept ‘looking glass self’ (Charles Cooley) Self fulfilling prophecy The master status and SFP Primary/secondary deviance

The self concept transforms We absorb the label once labelled The deviance is amplified Jock Young Notting Hill Hippies /watch?v=WsRI7S_TQ_ I&desktop_uri=%2Fwat ch%3Fv%3DWsRI7S_T Q_I&app=desktophttp:// /watch?v=WsRI7S_TQ_ I&desktop_uri=%2Fwat ch%3Fv%3DWsRI7S_T Q_I&app=desktop Meet the burglars. Apply labelling theory to the examples shown in the video

Advantages of Labelling Theory It does not treat official statistics as fact It rejects the idea that deviants are different to ‘normal’ people It questions the effectiveness of policing, the courts and punishment It raises the issue of power It considers the impact of the mass media It highlights the bias in law enforcement It considers societal reaction and the effects on individuals

Disadvantages of Labelling Theory Its over-romantic Too much focus on exotic deviance Ignores the origins of deviant acts There is absolute deviance It uses labelling in a deterministic way More attention needed on the behaviour that produced the label Deviants can adopt identity without being labelled Not explore fully capitalism and economic power

Synoptic links - family Gender socialisation Politics of the family (Laing and mental health) Single parent families Gay households Social construction of childhood and old age

What other theories say… Functionalism etc  Challenge the idea  Absolute deviance – set normal standards  Media must dramatise and make public deviance to reinforce common values  Police and courts are neutral  Law making is neutral – reflects shared values  There are causes of deviance that can be measured

Marxism Share idea of biased laws and selective policing Much overlap in Neo-marxism (New Criminology/CCCS) Traditional Marxism is though more structural and deterministic More attention on the economy (capitalism) needed

TASK: Hungry Caterpillar Place all the key terms from last lesson to form a caterpillar. Then write a paragraph underneath explaining how they link together.

Consolidation Using material from the previous ppt slides show your understanding of the deviance amplification process. Focus on: Societal reaction/sensitisation Stereotyping/expectations Effects on self-concept of young people How the media ‘amplified’ deviance The effect of the media on the public, police, politicians and courts The way that ‘subcultures’ are created and reinforced Use examples from the modern day as well as the Mods and Rockers

How positivist/structural and interpretivist/action ideas differ Positivist approach Man is shaped by social forces Reality is external and objective We can measure the causes of crime A minority are driven to deviance Interpretivistic approach Man is shaped by ideas and meanings Reality is internal and subjective We cannot measure the causes of crime Most people engage in deviance

THINK! How do social action theories differ to structural theories?

Stuart Hall – Policing the Crisis Neo Marxist CCCS Crisis in hegemony Targeted black youth – mugging moral panic Sensitisation – selective policing – Suss laws

Synoptic – education Labelling in the classroom – SFP Stereotypes in resources – affects on self concept Whose curriculum? Who shapes it?

Interactionism – Labelling theory Interactionism Doesn’t focus on the structures of society but how people and society interact and how this affects criminal behaviour. Howard Becker Focuses on the process of a person and act getting labelled as deviant. He argues that no act is intrinsically deviant but relies on its context to determine its acceptability. Examples: nudity, injecting oneself even murder. Labelling process 1.A label is attached by police and courts. 2.Label becomes a master status – overrides other status as sibling, friend etc. 3.The labelled person accepts the label – because how we see ourselves relies on how others see us. 4.Self-fulfilling prophecy – whether the label was true or not we act in accordance with it. This confirms peoples beliefs about the label being true. Deviancy amplification spiral This idea says that sensationalist reporting by the newspapers distorts the act of crime or deviance and increases public awareness. Public pressure is put on the police and courts to act. This creates a moral panic where certain acts or groups are seen as a threat to social order. Stanley Cohen Cohen studied how the media has often demonised youth culture. This happened to mods and Rockers in 1964 who were seen as modern day folk devils who threatened social order. His research found that actual acts of deviance were minimal.

Symbolic Interactionism – so much to answer for… George Herbert Mead QIIM8IRZUhttp:// QIIM8IRZU example of Mead Create your own example to illustrate Mead and Blumer’s ideas!

Erving Goffman ‘ASYLUMS’ ‘STIGMA’ According to Erving Goffman; Humans are ACTIVE and KNOWLEDGABLE they devise their own CONDUCT GUIDE and CONTROL how others see them Are different in social settings than alone Are social CON ARTISTS Dramaturgy: The THEATHRICAL REPRESENTATION of life consists of the FRONT stage and BACK stage Uses IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT as a tool