SOC 2700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Symbolic Interactionism, Labeling Theory

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Tolerating thee behaviours of minor offenders is better for the community than formally labeling them and risking them turning into more serious deviants. When they applied by formal agents of control (police, doctors) Society is given life and meaning through interactions through individuals. Argue that understanding of how we relate and act with one another are through shared meanings. Individual or small group interactions to look how . Roots of labeling are in symbolic interactionism. Not just stimulus response, but stimulus interpretation response. Generalized others individuals who might react to our particular behaviour. Significant others individuals in our most intimate personal groups. No act is intrinsic or deviant, it has to be defined by others to be criminal or deviant. Primary deviance we all are engaged in; no real social reaction to it. Secondary deviance effect that society"s reaction affects an individual. Has to be a significant reaction from others to move from primary deviance to secondary deviance.