deviance
Deviant behaviour has sadly been a ongoing occurrence in society throughout history, more noticeably in life today. Sociologists have been provoked to study and form theories in order to try and explain why social phenomena such as suicide, prostitution and drug use occur in our society. The Interactionist Perspective (known to many as the Labelling Theory) is interested in social processes and examines deviant behaviour using such methods as social typing. The Labelling theory focuses how an individual is made deviant, instead of focusing on deviant acts. The Interactionists emphasise the role that meanings play in the creation of deviant behaviour and gain a greater understanding of what it means to commit actions that others label as deviant. In order to discuss how the Interactionist theory can be used to explain deviance, it is necessary to understand the historical development and approach of this theory. The Interactionists firstly believe that there are no behaviours that are intrinsically deviant. Secondly, Deviant actions are simply those which are defined as deviant within a certain culture or setting. Therefore Interactionists focus on social processes by which certai
(Traub, 1994, pg 304)The Process of identifying deviant behaviour is offcourse effected by the type of audience involved. Lastly the third form of audience is that of 'official and organisational agents of social control', who are responsible for informing people what is considered a law breaking deviant offence. In 1923, Thomas conducted a study of a young woman who turned to Prostitution; she concluded that this was the only way she could financially provide for herself. The Interactionist perspective has of course encountered a lot of criticism from a variety of sources, the most common criticism comes from the Positivist sociologists, who say that labelling does not explain the etiology or cause of deviant acts such as drug addiction or rape. "(Goode, 1990, pg 62) Howard Becker addressed the incredible effects that 'Moral Entrepreneurs' have on shaping public perceptions of deviance. Thomas argues that Situations defined as real become real in the deviant's consequences. William Thomas and his 'Definition of the situation' is a continuation of Charles Cooley's study. "(Goode, 1990, pg 65) Interactionist theorists, in particular Howard Becker, argue that people who are stigmatised as both socially and morally unacceptable will have a tendency to turn to further rule breaking in the future. The second type of audience is that of 'ones significant others', explaining that most people tend to share the same views of their close relative and friends. Mead focused primarily on the way in which we as humans interpret the world we live in through the use of symbols, images, sounds, smells, etc. The Interactionists claim that deviant behaviour can be looked upon as no more than what people in certain cultures label as 'deviant,' and that the Audience plays a vital role in controlling societies understanding Butchart 9of the 'definition of a deviant'. It is commonly thought by the Interactionists, that people that are stigmatised as deviant, even if it is untrue, find it difficult to recover their self image, therefore falling further into deviant acts. According to Goffman, this causes 'damaged or 'spoiled' identities being forced upon people. This study focused on what kind of juveniles would be brought to court and treated as a delinquent.
Common topics in this essay:
Howard Becker,
Label' Goode,
Aaron Cicourel's,
Furthermore Interactionists,
Social Delinquent,
Labelling Theory,
Stigma Reflexivity,
Glass Self',
Charles Cooley,
Charles Cooley's,
deviant behaviour,
1990 pg,
aggleton 1987,
aggleton 1987 pg,
1987 pg,
interactionist perspective,
interactionist theory,
deviant act,
goode 1990,
howard becker,
goode 1990 pg,
traub 1994 pg,
1994 pg,
'looking glass self',
george herbert mead,
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Acceptance Essays
