Assess the view that crime and deviance are the product of labelling theory

by mattdoxford (student)

Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the view that crime and deviance are the product of labelling theory (21 marks)

Some sociologists believe that crime and deviance is a result labelling which is when a label is attached to a person or group of people due to their appearance, sex, ethnicity or other factors. It is also leads individuals to believe that labelling theory can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, which is when the person begins to act according to the label and hence it comes true simply through being made.

If a certain group of people have committed crime in the past they are more likely to be thought as to reoffend. Sociologists such as Cicourel investigated ‘typifications’ which are stereotypes of young offenders meaning the police focus their attentions on these ‘types’ of people. Through typifications the police concentrate on working class areas closely attaching a negative label to them. Once a label has been attached through self-fulfilling prophecy the offenders are more likely to feel victimised so may be obliged to offend again or on the other hand they may try to break the stereotype.

Similarly people tend to victimised in society due to their race. Piliavin and Briar argue that police arrest youth based on physical characteristics alone. Evidence of this happening could be reflected by the trend in the 70% rise in the number of blacks and Asians being stopped and searched. Stopping and searching people can be used as a precaution and could just be seen as a coincidence. On the other hand this stereotype could be seen as a form of racism. Making race based labels is judgemental of society where equality should be enforced.

Deviance is classified differently by ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Deviance is classified differently by many differing sociologist and there are different adaptations of what it is to be labelled. Braithwaite argued two different types of labelling, Reintergrative (labelling the act) and deintergrative (labelling the person and the act). By labelling an individual they can become ostracised by their community putting great pressure on them. If this pressure is reflected by everyone in society the offender’s only way of succeeding again could be to reoffend and fulfil their criminal career. Once a person has been labelled as a criminal it is hard for them to have aspirations of new and bettering career opportunities as employers see it as a negative thing. This rejection leads to people ‘giving up’ and living up to their label. However this theory is deterministic as I suggest that the criminals accept the label in the first place and that people are judged just on face value rather than their actual abilities. Downes and Rock argue that a deviant career isn’t an inevitable outcome of labelling as people are free to choose which path they choose to take.

In comparison to the functionalist theory that deviance leads to social control, labelling theorists see this opposite way round in that social control leads to deviance. With too many ‘rules and regulations’ society may feel the need to rebel and commit crime initially. Supported by Young’s theory of the spiral effect. The spiral effect meant if in this case hippies in Notting Hill weren’t allowed to smoke marijuana they would form subcultures to carry on with the wrong act contrary to the legal opinion also known as deviancy amplification.

On balance labelling in certain contexts does appear to be a product of Crime and Deviance but certain theories do ignore certain aspects that should be considered. Once a person has a label attached it can be very negative and close doors for future possibilities but this also depends on the person. Crime for most people is a choice but other feel it is relevant for simple survival so by attaching labels this furthers the bridges in society by making it increasingly difficult to get away from a career in crime and deviance whether it be petty or serious.

Matt Doxford