BIG question: does society make people into criminals?

Labelling theory (Paternoster & Iovanni, 1989) Deviant self-concept Primary deviance Formal labelling Blocked opportunities Secondary deviance Delinquent peers

Jigsaw activity We are aiming to answer three questions: 1. How strong is the empirical support for labelling/SFP as a process? 2. Are there gender differences in how people respond to labelling? 3. What are the strengths and limitations of the evidence? 10 minutes in expert groups 20 minutes in jigsaw groups

Empirical support for labelling?

Empirical support for labelling? All four studies support effect of labelling. Not the main influence, but significant across large samples. Best understood as risk factor not cause. Mediating mechanisms are all plausible (self-concept, blocked opportunity, delinquent peers, increased surveillance). Research does not tell us which really matter.

Gender differences?

Gender differences? Ramoutar & Farrington (2007), McGrath (2014) and Chiricos et al (2007) found females more affected by labelling than males. Restivo and Lanier (2013) did not report an effect of gender. Gender probably matters; unclear why; Possibly those with more to lose through stigmatization are more affected. This would also explain why Chiricos et al found that White people were more affected than Black.

Strengths and limitations?

Strengths and limitations? Large samples - but non-random ones. Use of longitudinal designs. Use of correlational designs. Reliance on self report data. Use of interviews.