2 - A Brief background to the Interactionist Perspective

3 - More recent developments in the Interactionist Perspective

4 - Using the Interactionist Perspective to explain social phenomena

Deviant behaviour has sadly been a ongoing occurrence in society throughout history, more noticeably in life today. Sociologists have been provoked to study and form theories in order to try and explain why social phenomena such as suicide, prostitution and drug use occur in our society. The Interactionist Perspective, known to many as the Labelling Theory, is interested in social processes and examines deviant behaviour using such methods as social typing. The Interactionists emphasise the role that meanings play in the creation of deviant behaviour and gain a greater understanding of what it means to commit actions that others label as deviant.

A Brief background to the Interactionist Perspective

In order to discuss how the Interactionist theory can be used to explain deviance, it is necessary to understand the historical development and

Edwin Lemert brought about a critical distinction between Primary and Secondary deviation. Primary deviation being either of Biological (eg deafness) or Social (Delinquent behaviour) origin. Secondary deviation on the other hand arises from the reactions of others towards primary deviation. Lemert quotes "Secondary deviation refers to a special class of socially defined responses which people make to problems created by the societal reaction to their deviance. "As you can see a social reaction to primary deviation can have a profound impact on the construction of a deviant identity.

In the 1960's, sociologists such as Herbert Blumer, Erving Goffman and Howard Becker went on to develop further the ideas and theories the earlier Interactionist

George Herbert Mead and his 'Development of the self' is responsible for a number of concepts which provide the foundations of what the Interactionist Theory is about. Mead focused primarily on the way in which we as humans interpret the world we live in through the use of symbols, images, sounds, smells, etc. "By interacting symbolically with significant others (people close to us), we learn to 'role-take', taking on board first of all, the roles of significant others towards us, but eventually the more general expectations of society at large." (Aggleton, 1987, pg 53)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Howard Becker, Furthermore Interactionists, Interactionist Perspective, Stigma Reflexivity, Glass Self', Charles Cooley's, Charles Cooley, Theory Mead, Herbert Mead, Social Delinquent, interactionist perspective, aggleton 1987, deviant behaviour, aggleton 1987 pg, 1987 pg, howard becker, 1990 pg, explain social, social phenomena, deviant act, explain social phenomena, traub 1994 pg, traub 1994, george herbert mead, background interactionist perspective,
Approximate Word count = 1827
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)