Assess the usefulness of subcultural theories for an understanding of crime and deviance in society today
Assess the usefulness of labelling theories for an understanding of crime and deviance in contemporary society
Labelling is when a definition is attached to a person and this label defines their life style. The labelling theory focuses on how and why certain acts are defined as deviant. Labelling theorist argue that there is
no such thing as a deviant act because no act is deviant within itself. It only becomes a deviant act when someone labels it so. A main strength of the labelling theory is that it doesn’t state that criminals differ from the norm, but rather are the same as everyone else; therefore everyone can become a criminal. A main weakness is that the theory doesn’t explain the reasons for why deviant acts are committed in the first place and why some commit crimes and others don’t.
Becker states that a deviant is simply someone to whom the label has been applied to and their act only becomes deviant when society labels it as being criminal. It is society’s reaction to the act that makes it deviant, not the nature of the act. Thus a person is labelled by their deviant act and this label becomes their master status. This is where all the other features of a person are ignored apart from the deviant act, which shapes how everyone treats them. For example the label ‘drug addict’ dominates all other positions and becomes their master status. This can lead to self fulfilling prophecy because they might accept the label that has been given to them, because of their deviant behaviour, and therefore see themselves as a criminal.