01:920:222 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Motor Vehicle Theft, Labeling Theory, Burglary
Document Summary
In late 1960s and early 1970s, many americans were critical of us society, including the criminologists. Reflected in theories of crime with the dev of labelling theory. Unlike positivist criminologists, not focuses on explaining the causes of crime. Instead focused on the societal reaction to crime and its effects on the labelled criminal. They assumed criminals are normal, but powerless. To show importance of labeling, distinguish b/w primary and secondary deviance. Not develop deviant identity; retain conformist self concept. Might sue techniques of neutralization to disavow deviant acts. Labeled person reacts to label by acknowledging deviance to self- labelling. Acknowledging deviance to fellow deviants and associating w/ deviants. Most labeling theorists ignored primary deviance and focused on secondary deviance. Very different from positivist criminologists who focus on causes of primary deviance. Actually labeling theorists were ambiguous about primary deviance. Some did look at how deviants came to commit their first deviant act.