What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance?

Week 4: Labeling Theory

For your opening post, answer ONE of the following questions. Your first post is due by WEDNESDAY. Include any lingering questions you have about the labeling theory readings or include a question for your peers, to help them think through the material more deeply. Cite your sources, please! Students lose points for not citing their sources. It is very important to cite at graduate level. Your work is not opinion; your writing/work comes from empirical and other academic sources. Personal experiences are permitted, as long as you answer the question prompts.

1. How does the basic premise of labeling theory differ from the other sociological perspectives (e.g., social disorganization, strain, differential association/social learning theory, and control theories)? Explain the major characteristics of labeling theory and briefly outline the major characteristics of the comparison theories. Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

2. How could placing people in prison deepen their involvement in crime? Do you think this applies to todays prison system? How does labeling a person criminal lead to subsequent criminal behavior? Give some examples (other than rehabilitation) of how a societal reaction can lower criminal behavior. What policy would reflect this perspective? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

3. What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance? Why could informal sanctions have a greater labeling effect than formal sanctions from the criminal justice system? Do you think informal sanctions have more of an impact with juveniles or adults? Why? What policy could reflect this perspective? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

4. What policy implications could come out of Lemert and Tannenbaums work? How do the revitalizations of labeling theory differ from the early labeling theories of Tannenbaum and Lemert? Explain their premise and discuss a policy that illustrates the principles of their work.

5. How does reintegrative shaming reduce crime? How does stigmatizing shaming increase crime? Describe and give examples of the key concepts in Braithwaites theory of reintegrative shaming. What kind of policy would reflect this perspective? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

6. How did Sherman extend the labeling perspective with defiance theory? How does Sherman combine multiple theories in his defiance theory? How would defiance theory attempt to reduce crime? Why is it so imperative that the police do not show preferential treatment to any group of people, according to defiance theory? How would you test the propositions of defiance theory? What policy would reflect this perspective? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

7. Explain restorative justice. Give an example of how you would address a crime using a restorative justice conference. How does cognition play a role in desistance according to Maruna? Based on Marunas idea of redemption and condemnation scripts, what policies could be implemented to assist offenders in their desistance of crime? How does Marunas theory differ from other labeling theories? Describe the process of making good. Why does Maruna stress the importance of recognizing redemption with offenders? What are the consequences of not formally acknowledging an offender making good? Do you think restorative justice is more or less effective in preventing crime than traditional criminal justice responses? Why? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.

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