SOCIOL 2CC3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Herbert Blumer, Symbolic Interactionism, Labeling Theory
19 Apr 2020
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Emerged as leading approach to study of deviance in 1960s. Mead"s theory of relationship between self and society. Theorists at chicago school in california and edwin lemert. A reaction against dominant sociological theories of deviance. Took issue with positivist approaches for following reasons: Failed to consider people"s" reactions to deviance. Primarily concerned with social structures & how they constrained inds. Society typified society as an over-determining force. Was an over-socialized view of human activity. Labeling theorists - esp becker, lemert, kitsuse. Called for shift away from traditional positivist concerns (focus on causes of deviance) toward an approach that involved the following: How rules and typifications are used to classify individuals as deviant. Responses of informal (family, peers) and formal agents of social control (police, courts) Impacts to individuals" conceptions of self and self identities. Esp role of stigma and how individuals manage it. 1st need to locate theory within symbolic interactionism.
