Social Process Theories

Last class we covered

Labeling theory is a _____ approach, meaning it focuses on interactions

• Social structure

• Social process

• Conflict

Other social process theories we have covered so far are

• Classical theory of criminology

• Early biological theories

• Social learning theory and social bond theory

Social bond theory draws on symbolic interactionism, a sociological theory that argues we can understand the social world by

• studying individual-level interactions

• studying legisliation

• focusing on how criminal behavior actually benefits society

Labeling theorists are less interested in who is labeled deviant/criminal/offender. They focus on why labels are created and who they apply to

• True

• False

Labeling theorists do not study why people engage in crime in the first place (primary deviance) but focus on secondary deviance, which is more serious behavior

• True

• False

______ is initial, non serious rule-breaking

• Primary deviance

• Secondary deviance

• Initial deviance

____ is more serious rule-breaking triggered by the negative, stigmatizing label from society

• Primary deviance

• Secondary deviance

• Serious deviance

Labeling theorists discuss the effect of stigmatizing labels on the self. Which key theorist wrote the book Outsiders?

• George Herbert Mead

• Frank Tannebaum

• Howard Becker

Labeling theory was criticized in the 1970s/1980s because ___

• Policymakers disagreed with its tenet that labels generate deviance/criminality

• Research testing the theory generated less support

• Becker revised his theory to focus on self control