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Labelling Theory Of Crime In Blueville

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The presence of crime and its fluctuation in society can be explained through criminological theories, which take on different perspectives to explain specific aspects of crime. The economic recession in Blueville resulted in drastic increases in crime, which have remained stable even after the end of the recession and the increase in the availability of jobs in the area. Additionally, despite the improvement of the economy, the city saw increases in the quantity of loitering, prostitution, and drug trafficking, as well as social inequality itself. Although one may expect crime to decrease alongside an improving economy, it is clear that the effects of the recession are long lasting in the community. Ultimately, the stagnant crime rates in …show more content…

Labelling theory, which is rooted in symbolic interaction theory, holds that people in societies are given symbolic labels that they learn to identify with (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 265). These labels can completely change the way in which a person sees themselves, and subsequently, others begin to only see the person through the significance of their label (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 268). In relation to crime, the negative labels that criminals are given ultimately leads to the label becoming their master status, resulting in further commitment to a criminal career (Campeau, Lecture Topic 8, Video 2). As individuals become more committed to deviant lifestyles, they turn to peers who have also been stigmatized, consequently isolating themselves from conventional society and locking them into this criminal lifestyle through social exclusion (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 265). The process of labelling is difficult to escape, as once society has labelled someone as criminal, it leads to a cycle of negative self-labelling, the joining of deviant subcultures, and further deviant acts, which only serve to amplify their deviant status (Campeau, Lecture Topic 8, Video …show more content…

Merton’s anomie occurs during social change, resulting in shifting values that cause social turmoil as norms lose meaning (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 224). The two elements that produce anomic conditions are “culturally defined goals and socially approved means for obtaining them” (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 224). These culturally defined goals are universal, and typically involve money or wealth; however, the means to achieve these goals are stratified, meaning that some individuals must adapt and turn to alternative solutions in order to attain them (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 224). One form of social adaptation is innovation, which is applied when the goals of society are accepted by an individual, but the conventional means for attaining the goal is not possible (Siegel & McCormick, 2020, p. 224). It is clear that Blueville is experiencing anomic conditions, which may be behind the increases in loitering, drug trafficking, and prostitution arrests. Individuals in Blueville likely desire the universal goal of wealth; however, those marginalized groups, or those who have already been labelled as deviant, would struggle to obtain this goal conventionally. It was stated that the new jobs in Blueville are filled by educated people who are moving into the

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There are many theories that suggest that crime is constructed socially, or is a product of the society in which the crime is committed. One such theory, proposed by Robert Merton, is known as strain theory. While strain theory is a useful model for explaining how societal values can drive people to commit crimes, it has several flaws and does not focus on how laws are made and how this contributes to the formation of crime. While Merton suggests that laws are created from consensus within a society, it will be argued that strain theory can also support the idea that laws are a “product of conflict” (Hagan 5). Strain theory is founded on the idea that the goals of a society and the accepted means of achieving said goal causes strain that can

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Howard Becker’s Labeling Theory explains social deviance based on societal reaction and subsequent labeling of an individual for infractions of the social rules established in a particular time or place which may or may not be applied fairly, justly, or with any consistency. The deviant—rule breaker—and the conformist—obedient—are easier to determine according to the theory; however, “falsely accused” and “secret deviance” lie on opposite ends of the spectrum and define the exceptions to the theory (Lynxwiler, 2016).” Falsely accused” is a concept Becker describes as a person who is labeled incorrectly based on the perception of deviance (Lynxwiler, 2016). Becker defines “secret deviance” as an act or behavior that does not elicit a response

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The associations are reviewed as an aspect of social structure and crime because of associations due to economic struggles by classes of people or groups (Schmalleger, 2012). Social disorganization theory views society as a living organism and that criminal behavior is compared to a disease. Strain theory looks at the lack of fit between socially approved success

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