Applying Material From Item A And Your Knowledge, Evaluate The Contribution Of Labelling To Our Understanding Of Crime And Deviance (30 Marks)

The labelling theory originates from the action theory, symbolic interactionism who believe that the individual shapes society through their interactions and the use of symbols. Labelling theory has a relativistic view on crime and deviance, so the powerful decide what is classed as a deviant act or what isn t classed as an act of deviance. The main principle of this theory is suggested by Becker, who says that there is no such thing as a deviant act and the responses of the act are influenced by the social audience, as shown in the item. To illustrate this point, Malinowski, a functionalist demonstrates Becker s point of there being no such thing as a deviant act by studying into the Trobriand islands. He found that incest was a common act on the island but classed as a private act, if they were found committing incest in a public place, this would trigger a response from the social audience as Becker stated in his theory, it would be deemed as a deviant act and so they would be exiled from the tribe and as a result of this they may commit suicide.

One of the main points of the labelling theory of crime and deviance is suggested by Becker, who proposes there are moral entrepreneurs within society. This is an individual who can have an influence on the social audience, these individuals can cause change in society, for example: a change in the law. Also, everyone can be moral entrepreneur, but the success depends on the status of the individual, for example: a politician is more likely to be successful in influencing the social audience compared to an individual with a lower status e.g. a cleaner. When the moral entrepreneur becomes successful, the influence of the individual acts are changed and this may start the process of labelling an individual as a criminal.

To support Becker, Cicourel a ethnomethodolgist, suggests that justice can be negotiated this is because the criminal justice system is based on typifcations and based on particularistic standards. So, they may an image of a criminal stereotype, e.g. a working-class man and if the offender meets the stereotype they are more likely to be punished compared to an offender who doesn t match the stereotype e.g. a middle-class man. They are able to negotiated their punishment and may get themselves out of the situation. Therefore, Cicourel supports Becker s moral entrepreneur theory which contributes to the understanding of the labelling theory of crime and deviance as this theory clearly shows that a moral entrepreneur of a high status is able to influence the social audience for example a change in the law to get out of the situation they are in.

Another point of the labelling theory of crime and deviance is Lemert, who suggests that there is two types of deviance. One type of deviance is primary deviance, which is a deviant act but has no influence on the social audience, for example downloading music, everyone knows it is illegal to do so but a label isn t placed on an individual for committing this deviant act and therefore, has no impact on the self-concept. The second type of deviance is secondary deviance, which is a deviant act that does have an influence on the social audience, for example, killing someone, everyone knows it is illegal and places an label on the offender. This label effects the individual as they may internalise the label and this may lead to the self-fulfilling prophecy.

The third point of the labelling theory of crime and deviance is proposed by Wilkins, with the idea of the deviance amplification spiral and also uses Lemert s idea of primary and secondary deviance and the effects that labelling can have on the offender and how primary deviance turning into secondary deviance can have. The process of the deviance amplification spiral starts of the with a primary act of deviance becomes an issue as a moral entrepreneur has spoke up about it and is influencing the social audience for a change. So therefore, the act which was once an act of primary deviance has now become an act of secondary deviance, it is now illegal for that act to be committed without a punishment. As this spiral occurs, there may be an increase in crime statistics. Therefore, Wilkins builds on Lemert s idea of primary and secondary deviance and also the change from primary to secondary deviance may have an influence on the way in which the social audience responds, this could range from a massive influence to a small influence.

To support both Lemert and Wilkins, a left realist Jock Young studied the hippies in the 1960 s with their use of minor drugs as it was a part of their culture. This started as an act of primary deviance until the use of minor drugs was reported to the police and started on the crackdown of the use and so became an act of secondary deviance. Even though, the police had cracked down on the use of minor drug use, the hippies continued to use minor drugs which led to more serious drug use. This labelled them as criminals. As a result of a simple part of the hippies culture becoming illegal, it created a self-fulfilling prophecy on the hippies being labelled as criminals, and also became marginalised from the rest of the society. Therefore, this clearly shows that Jock Young s study on the hippies and their use of minor drugs supports Lemert s idea of there being primary and secondary deviance and Wilkins s idea of the deviance amplification spiral where primary deviance can spiral into secondary deviance.

In support of the whole labelling theory of crime and deviance especially the deviance amplification spiral is Stan Cohen with his theory of folk devils and moral panics. A moral panic is a result of the media generating an over-exaggeration within the public to a particular issue. Moral panics aim to carry out a number of elements which include: identify a specific group at threat who are the folk devils, expose the folk devils and their exaggeration of their deviance, encouraging moral entrepreneurs to open up about their unfavourable behaviours and encourage crackdowns on the folk devils. The example that Cohen uses for his theory on folk devils and moral panics is the mods and rockers who have completely contrasting views. Cohen says that a clear distinction was established between these groups within the 1960 s when a small dispute occurred, as a result of this Cohen suggested a moral panic occurred and identified 3 main elements which make up a moral panic. One element of a moral panic is exaggeration and distortion, this is where the media over-exaggerated the number of people involved in the scuffle and changed the views of the whole society as the media have created a vested interest. Another element of a moral panic is prediction, the news articles produced by the media predicted the gathering of the mods at a beach but the rockers would turn up unexpectedly, this resulted in a moral panic and so more mods and rockers turned up. Therefore, turned into a large dispute due to the media distorting the society s view. The third element of a moral panic is symbolisation, any items linked to the mods and the rockers were negatively labelled and deviant, this applied a negative label to the groups and led to them being marginalised.

From a theoretical point of view, Functionalists would disagree with the labelling theory of crime and deviance for many reasons. One reason Functionalists would disagree with this theory is that Functionalists have normative view on crime and deviance, where there is an agreement on what is identified as a deviant act or not which is also reflected by the law as shown in the item that the social audience determines the meaning of the action. Also, Functionalists believe that the criminal justice system operates on universalistic standards and this is used in society, this means that all individuals would be labelled the same. However, the labelling theory explain how and why particular social groups commit crimes and also take a particularistic approach and so does the criminal justice system. Functionalists also say that crime is functional and has a beneficial impact on society. To illustrate this point, Erikson a Functionalist suggests that the criminal justice system is aware that deviance is functional and occurs in the real world and they allow acts of primary deviance at social events, this is so it allows individuals to release frustrations and this would lead to less crimes occurring. From another theoretical perspective, Marxists would agree with the view that the labelling theory of crime and deviance has which is relativistic, which suggests that the powerful decides what is classed as a deviant and what isn t a deviant act, normally in favour of their needs. However, marxists disagree with what the labelling theorists suggests that the social audience decides what is classed as a deviant act or not, whereas Marxists suggest that the bourgeoisie decide this. Also, Marxist Bonger suggests that capitalism is criminogenic, so crime is inevitable and can t be avoided, however labelling theorists would disagree with this and say that the moral entrepreneur decide what is identified as deviant or not. Within today s society there is a social class divide, where the proletariat is disadvantaged and their actions being made deviant or the bourgeoisie forcing the actions of the proletariat to become deviant.

In conclusion, a significant amount of evidence clearly shows that the labelling theory of crime and deviance including the media has had a large contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance. This theory of crime and deviance can have an influential difference on the way that we view crime and deviance. Also, the theories in which criticise the labelling theory of crime and deviance are also correct in their view as in today s society being modernised not just one theory can explain crime and deviance, all theories are useful in trying to explain crime and deviance but in their different ways and views.