Labeling theory-
What creates deviance is ppl enforcing some sorts of norms or rules
Self fulfilling profecty- audience starts out with an expectation with how they think she is going
to behave. If the ind doesn’t follow that predictinon, they punish them essentially
Stigmatizing or punishing deviance will further push deviantes into more deviance or crime
Ind who are not excepted into a group, reinforce the idea that they are different from everyone
else
React back in ways that are deviant. You brought on the deviance by your own actions as the
“audience”
Primary deviance- It is a behavior that you engage in in private (no one aware of it) that COULD
be reacted to a social audience in a certain way. COULD pull out stigmatizing reactions by social
audience
Secondary deviance- ongoing or continuing deviant acts which were caused by stigmatized
primary deviance. Ex: maybe they think im a drugie, therefore im going to continue to be.
The first or initial reaction can be followed by further reaction to the primary deviance. Ppl find
themselves further and further from the social group and as a result, certain ppl develop deviant
careers. They see themselves as solid deviants so they continue that way for the rest of their
lives.
Recidivist- repeat offender in the criminal justice system
One of the most potitive explanations for recidivitism is labeling theory. After they come
out of jail, it is hard for them to re-enter the main society because they have been
branded.
Federal Expungement Act- if the states wanted to, they could invoke a policy that a person’s first
time crimal offense, even if convicted, could be erased from criminal record or file.
Second chance deal because a criminal record can impede you to function in society.
Problem was that computers were getting popular at the time and ppl made businesses
where you could search the background on people. Arrests and convictions would be
documented by people.
Criticism - not everybody who is condemned doesn’t actually go on in being even more deviant.
The harsher you react to someones deviance, the highter the chance of that person
going into further deviance
