Symbolic Interaction and Its Role in the Creation or Interpretation of Deviance

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Symbolic Interaction
Symbolic interaction depicts that crime and deviance are usually the products of social interaction and the perception and interpretation of individuals’ behaviors. In particular, symbolic interactionism refers to the theoretical framework that explains how social groups or societies perceive deviance. Deviance entails the behaviors or actions that violate set rules, accepted standards, or social norms (Triplett and Turner). In that light, symbolic interaction plays a significant role to elaborate the creation or interpretation of deviance. For example, labeling theory posits that societal members are the ones that label people as deviant, particularly if they violate the established norms.
Primary deviance means that an individual’s self-image or identity is not affected even if one has been labeled as deviant. However, secondary deviance takes place when a person changes his or her behaviors as a result of being named deviant by societal members. Humans socialize b...