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EnglandSociologyQuick questions
Debates in contemporary society (Component 3, Section B)
Quick questions on Interactionist and Marxist theories of crime - OCR A-Level Sociology Crime and deviance
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is interactionist labelling theory?Show answer
Becker argues that moral entrepreneurs campaign to create rules, and that once a person is labelled deviant, the label becomes a master status that overrides their other identities, often triggering a self-fulfilling prophecy in which they live up to it. Lemert distinguishes primary deviance (minor rule-breaking that is not labelled) from secondary deviance (further deviance produced by the reaction to a label). Cicourel shows that justice is negotiated: the police use stereotypes of the "typical delinquent" (often working-class and from minority groups), and middle-class parents can better negotiate to keep their children out of the system. Media reaction can drive a deviancy amplification spiral, where exaggeration produces more control and more deviance.
What is q1?Show answer
Outline two concepts from labelling theory. [4 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Outline and explain two Marxist arguments about the law and crime. [10 marks]
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