Inertia and Crime

Social Inertia

Quotation analysis

This quotation is an excellent example of what might be called 'groupthink." Groupthink is the idea that simply because everyone thinks something -- in this case, supports a particular theory about crime or does not support a particular theory about crime -- it must be right. Ironically, social labeling is a theory of groupthink, applied to crime. This theory states that because everyone holds certain prejudices about a particular social group, these prejudices are assumed, without foundation correct.

Social labeling theory stresses that the current methods of crime prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through the penal system merely encourage more crime. They create a foundation for the creation of a pariah class of individuals who are socially ostracized, have difficulty finding jobs and thus commit more crimes (O'Connor, 2005). Society becomes stratified in an inert manner, essentially preventing demonized groups, such as former convicts who have paid their debt to society, to escape the prison of their social status or lack of status.

Minorities are often ostracized in such a fashion, even before they commit crimes, and so were young people who dressed in an alternative fashion, in the wake of the Columbine shootings ("Resources: framing the issue," 2003), Youth in the Media: McKnight Foundation). This is also true of defendants labeled as child molesters -- even if not convicted, the label or suspicion is so insidious, it is difficult for juries or even witnesses to apprehend the facts with an unbiased eye ("In the Supreme Court of the United States," 1990, IPT). There is also a psychological reason for labeling theory, suggested by this example of prejudice -- once a first impression is created, it is difficult to forget that first impression, as all subsequent actions are interpreted in relation to that first negative image or label.