Question

Pick a famous politician, business leader, or celebrity who has been arrested recently. What crime did he or she allegedly commit? Who was the victim?

Explain his or her actions from the point of view of one of the major sociological paradigms. What factors best explain how this person might be punished if convicted of the crime?

Please include reference of source.

Answer 1

• I can think of Justin Bieber is a celebrity who had been arrested in South Beach, Florida. He was arrested for DUI on the 30th of January, 2017. Justin had consumed alcohol, been smoking marijuana, consumed some prescription medication, and cursed the cops.
• He was also arrested for resisting arrest without violence, drag racing, and driving on an expired license.
• There were no victims such as a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, but since “Florida State has zero tolerance for underage drinkers who drive,” he was arrested.
• In fact, there could have been a victim (or several victims), since Justin had been driving under the influence of alcohol. And if Florida’s law enforcement was not on the lookout or serious about underage drinkers who drive, Justin could have run over a citizen crossing the street with his car.
• I will explain Justin Bieber case from the sociological paradigms in the theoretical approach of "Symbolic Interactionism,” under the realm of labeling theory.
• Labeling theory states that a deviant behavior does not impact to themselves or the people who commit them, but by the reactions of other who comprehend these deviant behaviors, such as the deviant behavior of Justin Bieber.
• The deviant behavior of Justin Bieber is the following kinds: dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing.
• This type of deviance is a Justin’s deviant behavior as a celebrity role model can cause some people, in terms of our culture and society, to perform similar to his deviant behavior such as violating social norms; like consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana, consuming some prescription medication, and cursing the cops.
• And on the concepts of labeling theory, Justin is a Secondary deviance type of deviance that effects his identity formation. Because his self-concept and behavior will begin to change after his actions (dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing) are labeled as “deviant,” by some people, in terms of our culture and society.
• He will develop a reputation as a “troublemaker.” As a result, causing Justin to start acting out even more “deviant” and breaking more which he will adopt the “troublemaker” label and embraced this deviant identity.
• He is not a Primary deviance because his violation of norms can result in any long-term effects on the individual’s self-image or interactions with others; therefore, Justin is a Secondary deviance on the concepts of labeling theory.