Labeling Theory and Ethnomethodology

(these ideas drawn from Goode, 1994-2008 chapter 4; and Pfohl, Images of Deviance and Social Control, 1985. See the disclaimer)

Theoretical Perspective rooted in Symbolic Interactionism

Focus:

Key Contributors

George Herbert Mead (1934): "The self as a social product."

Frank Tannenbaum (1938): differential perspectives and "Tagging."

Edwin Lemert (1951): Primary and Secondary Deviance.

  1. Many so labeled are the product of strained interaction.
  2. Individual often properly realizes exclusion.
  3. Distorted communication.
  4. Lack of feedback.
  5. Requires strong response==> strain==> intensifies others perception==> further exclusion.......

Core Elements of the Labeling Perspective

Ethnomethodology:

Forms the foundation for understanding how deviant labels are constructed as a "practical accomplishment" in everyday interactions.

Cicourel, "Good and Bad Boys"

  1. Good Boys- Act does not equal a cue, good boy in bad situation, "normal" misbehavior.
  2. Bad Boy- Act is a cue, reveals underlying problem, bad situation (home, school) produces bad boys, "serious" problem that needs handling.

Rosenhahn: Being Sane in Insane Places

Phillips: Help Seeking Behavior

Sudnow: Normal Crimes

  1. Typification used by PD to organize a variety of offenses of a given class into homogeneous categories in order to efficiently process cases (plea bargain)
  2. PD's as overworked, understaffed, part of a "Court Room Work Group."
  3. Premise: If arrested, then must be guilty of something, therefore needs to be punished. Plea Bargain satisfies both parties.

Harvey Sacks:

  1. Rule of Economy: Once categorized, we resist other interpretations of behavior.
  2. Rule of Consistency: Once categorized we will organize past and future behavior in line with the new category (retrospective interpretation)

Focus on Organizations and Professional Interests

How the structure of the organization impacts the defining process

Douglas: Suicide

  1. Medical Examiners and Coroners
  2. Politics and vested interest
  3. Statistics as key to understanding organization of social control rather than the "objective reality" of deviant behavior.
  4. Statistics produced by organizations become a topic of study in their own right.

Other organizational studies:

  1. Wilson: Police departments- Large and bureaucratic vs. Small and informal.
  2. Index Crimes vs. White Collar
  3. Shoplifting/employee fraud
  4. Mental Disorder: Male vs. Female
  5. Breast feeding: Leleche vs DFS

Basic Point

Policy:

Mental Disorder

Cognitive Deviance

Conflict Theory

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/200/labeling.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel
rok@umsl.edu
References and Credits for this Page of Notes
Last Updated: Monday, March 10, 2008 1:26 PM