CRM 302 Lecture 6: SOC2700- Lecture 6 - Symbolic Interactionism and Labelling Theory.docx

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRM 302
• Professor: Anne- Marie Singh

Document Summary

Society is given life and meaning through interactions of individuals. Interpretations of social situations and behavioural negotiations with others: not just: stimulus response, but, stimulus interpretation response. Significant and generalized others attitudes towards us/reactions hold up mirror for us to see ourselves. We only understand meaning of symbols due to our interactions and reactions to them (such as waving: stimulus (waving, interpretation, response (bad or good) Deviance is in the eyes of the beholder . Primary deviance: no societal reaction; opportunities not affected; relationships not affected; self/roles not affected roles not affected by that act. Secondary deviance: societal reaction: internalization of negative labels, self-concept is altered, once we internalize these reactions our self-concept changes. Were labelled as mentally ill: everything was seen as their psychological disorders. Everything they did- even normal behaviors- seen as deviant (symptom of psychological disorder) One labels are attached, everything reinforces the deviance. Saints good boys doing bad things.