Edwin LemertLemert was born on May 8, 1912 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He acquired his bachelor's degree in sociology from Miami University (class of 1934) and his doctorate from Ohio State University (class of 1939). He distinctly specialized in sociology and anthropology. For a short period of time he became a professor at Kent State and at Western Michigan Universities.
He explains his theory about primary and secondary deviance. Died in November 10, 1996 by the age of 84. |
How did he get it from? |
Lemert's concepts of primary and secondary deviance draw from George Herbert Mead's perspectives on social interaction and from labeling theory, Pretty much a offspring of it.
Label Theory: is the view of deviance according to which being labeled as a "deviant" leads a person to engage in deviant behavior. Social Interactions: Is a dynamic sequence of social actions between individuals (or groups) who modify their actions and reactions due to actions by their interaction partner(s). |
His reasoning/
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Lemert wanted to explore the process by which our behaviors can cause us to be labeled as deviants and lead us to be exclude from society.
In Lemert's 1951 thesis, he demonstrates that the subject does not realize he or she is deviant during primary deviance. Secondary deviance often occurs as a defense or attack toward the societal reaction of the initial misbehavior. After two decades of study, Lemert concluded in the 1970s that social control causes deviance, rather than deviance happening first and societal reaction occurring next. He explains that primary deviance is a behavior in which the participant does not react negatively to perceived misbehavior, while secondary deviance occurs after a person's negative reactions to being labeled a deviant by society, He believes that crime is not an random occurrence in which a label person plays no role. He explains that people that were portrayed as innocent people were driven into a life of crime because of their label. Example: Being called a troublemaker then acting like one for the rest of your life. |
Definition of Deviants: Is any behavior that violates social norms, and is usually of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society. Deviance can be criminal or non‐criminal.
Definition of Deviance: Behavior that violates significant social norms
Definition of Deviance: Behavior that violates significant social norms
Primary Deviance
The initial deviant acts that bring on the first social response; these acts do not affect the individual’s self-concept.
Why its not Secondary Deviance: Well its corrective that it stopped from commiting other devaints acts in the future
Not label as a deviant or criminal. .
Example: Often occurs within a person's own peer group that engages in the same behavior. For instance, a teenager who smokes cigarettes with other teens doesn't perceive any bad behavior because everyone else in the peer group is smoking.
Common: Skipping class
Not making a big deal out of it.
Why its not Secondary Deviance: Well its corrective that it stopped from commiting other devaints acts in the future
Not label as a deviant or criminal. .
Example: Often occurs within a person's own peer group that engages in the same behavior. For instance, a teenager who smokes cigarettes with other teens doesn't perceive any bad behavior because everyone else in the peer group is smoking.
Common: Skipping class
Not making a big deal out of it.
Secondary Deviance
Definition: results in the individual being labeled as deviant and accepting the label as true.
Accepts the role of becoming a label/Criminal
Being known as a bad example which people will treat you different.
Innocent people can be known to be put in theses situations.
Example: Occurs when this same teenager moves to a different school and smokes in front of a peer group that shuns smoking. The teen is labeled an outcast and begins to smoke more because people told him or her that smoking was not acceptable. This time, the person knows the behavior is deviant and continues to engage in misbehavior anyway.
Common: Stealing, robbing, or committing a crime.
Accepts the role of becoming a label/Criminal
Being known as a bad example which people will treat you different.
Innocent people can be known to be put in theses situations.
Example: Occurs when this same teenager moves to a different school and smokes in front of a peer group that shuns smoking. The teen is labeled an outcast and begins to smoke more because people told him or her that smoking was not acceptable. This time, the person knows the behavior is deviant and continues to engage in misbehavior anyway.
Common: Stealing, robbing, or committing a crime.
In Conclusion:
If they are known as a deviant, some of them will act like it and accept the role.
The more they hear it, the more likely they will act like it.
Signs of them accepting the role, dressing up as one, personality and manners changed, and posture/speaking changed.
Even though they act like this as kids, does not mean they like this as adults.
This theory only explains on a limited range of behaviors.
The more they hear it, the more likely they will act like it.
Signs of them accepting the role, dressing up as one, personality and manners changed, and posture/speaking changed.
Even though they act like this as kids, does not mean they like this as adults.
This theory only explains on a limited range of behaviors.