Transcript Symbolic Interactionism, Phenomenology and Labelling Theory

Symbolic Interactionism and
Labelling Theory
Dan Ellingworth
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Key Features of Interactionism
• A micro level perspective
• Social Action, rather than social structure
• Focuses on how we interpret the social
world, and give meaning to action
• Importance of Social Context
• The “Self”
George Mead and “The Self”
• Our self-conceptions are a combination of
– “I” : spontaneous action; observing
– “Me”: aware of how others see me; reflecting a
censored and partial role played for others
• Together these form the Self
Interactionism and Deviance
• “Crime” and “criminal” are not clear,
unambiguous categories
• People can technically break the law
without undermining their self-image
• Social Construction of Deviance: different
actions can result in punishment or not,
dependent on different circumstances
Source Becker (1963) Outsiders
Obedient Behaviour
Rule-Breaking
Behaviour
Perceived as Deviant
Falsely Accused
Pure Deviant
Not Perceived as
Deviant
Conforming
Secret Deviant
“Deviance is not a quality of the act the
person commits, but rather a consequence
of the application by others of rules and
sanctions to an ‘offender’. The deviant is
one to whom the label has successfully
applied; deviant behaviour is behaviour that
people so label.”
Howard S. Becker “The Outsiders”
Task: How are the following actions
responded to differently?
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Killing
Swearing
Drinking
Speeding
Different behaviour can be
perceived and interpreted differently
To understand crime, we need to
therefore understand:• The Behaviour
and
• The Reaction to it
Edwin Lemert
• Primary Deviancy: may be temporary
experimentation: does not result in a changed selfconception
• Secondary deviancy: results when labelling has
established a deviant self-identity
– May result in acceptance of deviant status, and
reorganisation of life to preserve “Self”
• The societal reaction may, or may not be
triggered by primary deviancy
Howard Becker: “The Outsiders”
• Focused on the process by which
individuals achieved a marijuana smoker
• Stigma attached to the deviant label
changed individuals behaviour
• Individuals deviants relocate themselves
entirely within the subcultural groups:
master status as deviant
Deviancy Amplification
• (Unintended) consequences of labelling
– Adaptation of deviants “master status”
– Copycat behaviour
– Application of label to a growing and less well
defined range of situations
– More stringent prioritisation of problems
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Targeting the groups
Reduced levels of discretion
Stricter Sentences
Changing Interpretation of Labels
What determines the application
of the “deviant” label?
• Power : Groups which have the ability
to make and enforce laws
• Ideology : the identification of the
behaviour which is to be criminalized
Key Groups in the Labelling
perspective
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Law Makers
Law Breakers
Law Enforcers
The Reactors (i.e. the public), and those
who influence them
Moral Panics
• An exaggerated, simplified, media reaction
to a threat to societal values, calling for
greater social control, but producing a spiral
of reaction
Folk Devils and Moral Panics
• Stan Cohen’s classic study of the press coverage
of Mods and Rockers “Riots” in the 1960s
• Sensationalised distortion of events
• Predictions of future conflict and violence: selffulfilling prophecy
• Symbolic deviance: “Folk Devils”
• Moral entrepreneurs calling for greater social
control, resulting in marginalisation
Policing the Crisis
• Stuart Hall (et al): moral panic around
‘mugging’
• Discourse around themes of youth, crime
and race used to shape the debate, and
reinforced the New Right political project
(hegemony) of authoritarian populism
Weaknesses of the Labelling
Perspective
• Relativist definition of crime
• Lack of focus on causes of primary
deviance: does unobserved deviance exist?
• Only successfully applied to certain types of
crime
• Difficult (impossible?) to show evidence, as
primary deviance is hidden
• Ignores social structure, power, etc.
Strengths of the Labelling
Perspective
• Importance of self-perception
• Leads to a shift away from the focus on the
offender
– The beginnings of criminology considering the
role of law enforcers (e.g. the police) in
criminological explanation
– Some aspects of labelling still influential in
areas of criminological debate
Enduring Influences of Labelling
• Resettlement of offenders
“Did you know many prisoners are homeless and
unemployed after they are released from prison? Given this
fact, it's not that surprising that many ex-prisoners drift
back into crime. We make sure that prisoners get the
support they need to lead law-abiding lives and play a
meaningful part in society.”
NACRO Website
Reintegrative Shaming
• Policies aimed at reintegrating offenders
back into ‘mainstream’ society
– Societal disapproval, coupled with gestures of
re-acceptance: aim to avoid stigma
– Aimed at re-orienting the offender’s sense of
“Self” by appealing to their conscience
Summary
• Individuals make sense of the world according to the way
people react to them
• 2 aspects to personality: Id and Ego
• Labels threaten the sense of self (the id)
• 2 choices
– cease behaviour causing label
– seek out norms, values and behaviour that support/ condone
deviant behaviour
• Deviancy Amplification
• Deviant labels not just the result of crime
• Public discourse development and shaping of a deviant
“phenomenon”