Football crowds are often labelled as mobs because of their hostile intentions towards supporters of the opposing team. However, Marsh et al. (1978) showed that far from comprising mindless mobs, fans operate within a strong social structure and their behaviour is often highly patterned. Most hostility is ritualised rather than the free-for-all violence portrayed by the media. Although physical violence can occur, on most occasions aggression remains verbal. However, Banyard (1989) reports that in the case of the Hillsborough stadium disaster in 1989 the beliefs of the police that a crowd equals a mob meant that they failed to take action which may have saved lives. early 100 football supporters were crushed to death. This suggests that the construct of society is a prominent factor in deviance.
When an individual deviates from a social norm a label may be imposed upon them by society. Labelling not only affects how society views an individual, but also how the person views themselves. Becker’s ‘Becoming a marijuana user’ and ‘Marijuana use and Social Control’ (1963), came to be associated with labelling theory. He believed that “Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label”.
Becker found that at the beginning of the 60’s the use of cannabis was a minimal activity compared to what it is today as it was less socially acceptable then. The drug class of cannabis has been reduced from class A to B and is currently under consideration to be moved down to class C. As the laws on cannabis use are relaxed society’s views tend to change. A report from the House of Lords, 2001, suggests cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use. The report, by the Lords select committee on science and technology, states that patients who use cannabis as a method of easing symptoms of debilitating conditions like multiple sclerosis should not have to live in fear of prosecution.
“We consider it undesirable to prosecute genuine therapeutic users of cannabis who possess or grow cannabis for their own use.”
Becker found that becoming a user was achieved through various stages which helped the user to be accepted into the subculture by learning and using techniques, associating with more advanced users, and adapting their moral attitudes towards use and non-use of the drug. This meant that because of the interaction with a group or sub-culture within society which is not opposed to the use of cannabis, the individual then adopts this view and is then categorised as deviant by the majority of society which is opposed to the use of cannabis. This can also be applied to football hooliganism as association with a violent group or mob can lead to the individual portraying these violent tendencies themselves. This shows that a society itself can influence a person to become deviant.
Becker also thought that a persons dress sense, manner of speaking, or ethnic background could also be contributing factors as to whether an individual is labelled. A stereotypical view of a cannabis user may be a scruffy appearance for example baggy or dirty clothes, poor personal care , or an unshaven face. A stereotypical appearance of a football hooligan may be jeans, puffer jacket which may make the individual appear ‘butch’, a baseball cap, and items of clothing with their chosen team’s logo on it. Also a general thug-like appearance such as a shaven head or eye-brow piercing. This points to the view that because of appearance society may see an individual as deviant without actual evidence that they have committed a deviant act or crime.
When a person is labelled socially as deviant this can become central to their personality and therefore a cannabis user or football hooligan may continue in their deviant acts and not try to better themselves because of society’s view, and instead live according to the norms created around a specific label. This is supported by a model devised by Edwin Lemert (1972) to show how deviance can exist alongside with or become a central part of our identities. Lemert described two types of deviance; the first being primary deviance. This meant that the acts of deviance committed by the individual had little effect over their self identity as they may perceive these acts as nothing more than an insubstantial everyday occurrence and do not see themselves as deviant, and therefore a cannabis user would see nothing wrong with using the drug, and a football hooligan would not see their behaviour as wrong. Lemert’s idea of secondary deviance further supports the result of further deviation as in this case the cannabis user or football hooligan accepts the label placed upon them by society and considers themselves deviant. This can then become central to the person’s identity which is what leads to the continuation or intensification of the act. Thus a deviant character has been socially constructed.
Leslie Wilkins (1964) was interested in a term he described as deviancy amplification. He suggested this was and outcome of an individual ‘managing’ a deviant identity and combining it into their daily life. This relates to the unintended result that can arise when by labelling someone as deviant an agency of control, such as prisons or social agencies, actually insight the deviant to display more of the same behaviour. In other words, because of society’s method of control of deviant acts the undesired behaviour becomes more common and those labelled deviant, such as cannabis users and football hooligans, become even more resistant to change.
In conclusion we have seen that a deviant act such as cannabis use has increased over the years because of social influences such as society’s changing attitude towards the drug, society is becoming increasingly aware of the beneficial use of the drug. This implies that society does have some bearing over what is classed as a deviant act. However, a deviant act such as Football Hooliganism is not only constructed by society’s view but also involves the influence of a crowd and the fact that anonymity occurs within a crowd. This highlights the idea that violence and other deviant behaviour associated with football hooliganism can occur because no single person can be held responsible for the actions of a group.
This gives us an insight into the view that deviance is constructed socially, because of the theory of labelling and the conformity to the characteristics of a deviant label.
Bibliography
Armstrong, G. (1998). Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score, Berg
Coomber, R. (Ed.) (1994). Drugs and Drug Use in Society Greenwich University Press
Giddens, A. (2001). Sociology (4th ed.), Polity Press
Magure, M., Morgan, R. & Reiner, R. (Eds.) (2002) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (3rd ed.) Oxford University Press
Author Unknown, (Thursday March 22, 2001) ‘Lords back Cannabis Use’ BBC News (Online Newspaper). Retrieved December 12, 2002 from world wide web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1234220.stm
