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Unlock This CourseHave you ever noticed how people sometimes get known for just one thing about them? Maybe someone in your school is known as "the troublemaker" or "the genius" - and that's all people see when they look at them. In sociology, we call this a master status and it's a powerful concept when we study crime and deviance.
Key Definitions:
A master status is like the main label society gives you that overshadows everything else about you. For example, if someone is labelled as an "ex-convict," people might ignore that they're also a parent, skilled worker, volunteer, or artist. The "criminal" label becomes their master status - the thing everyone notices first and remembers most.
When a deviant label becomes someone's master status, it can be incredibly difficult to escape. Job applications, housing, relationships - all can be affected by this powerful label. The master status doesn't just describe a person; it can actually shape their future opportunities and how they see themselves.
Master status doesn't happen overnight. It develops through a process sociologists have studied carefully. Understanding this process helps us see how people can become trapped in cycles of deviance.
When someone is publicly labelled as "deviant" (like being called a thief, troublemaker, or drug user), several things happen:
The person is publicly identified as different from "normal" people. This might happen through formal means (like a criminal record) or informal ones (like gossip).
Others begin treating the person according to the label, expecting them to behave in certain ways. Teachers might watch a "troublemaker" more closely, expecting bad behaviour.
Eventually, the labelled person may begin to see themselves through the lens of the label, thinking "maybe this is just who I am" - a process called self-fulfilling prophecy.
Jamie was caught messing about in class when he was 13. His teachers began describing him as "disruptive" in reports. Soon, whenever anything went wrong in class, teachers would look at Jamie first. Other students began to avoid group work with him. Jamie, feeling he couldn't escape the label, eventually thought "if they're going to treat me like I'm bad anyway, I might as well act how I want." By 16, his identity as "the troublemaker" had become his master status, affecting his grades, friendships and future opportunities.
A deviant career refers to the process through which a person moves from committing occasional deviant acts to adopting a deviant identity and lifestyle. This doesn't happen all at once - it's a journey with several stages.
Once someone has a deviant master status, they often face barriers to returning to "normal" life. Limited job prospects, social rejection and legal restrictions can make conventional success seem impossible. This can lead to what sociologists call "deviance amplification" - where the response to deviance actually increases deviant behaviour rather than reducing it.
Master status and deviant careers aren't just theoretical concepts - they affect real people every day:
Mark served an 18-month sentence for theft when he was 19. Upon release, he was determined to "go straight" and build a normal life. However, he quickly discovered his criminal record created barriers. Job applications required disclosure of his conviction and many employers rejected him immediately. Landlords were reluctant to rent to him. Even socially, when people learned of his past, many became distant. Mark found himself increasingly spending time with other ex-offenders who understood his situation. Five years after his release, despite his best intentions, Mark's "ex-offender" master status had limited his opportunities so severely that he returned to crime, feeling he had no other options.
The concepts of master status and deviant careers are closely connected to several important sociological theories:
Developed by Howard Becker, labelling theory suggests that deviance is not inherent in an act but in society's response to it. When powerful groups apply deviant labels to less powerful individuals, these labels can stick and become master statuses. Becker famously said: "The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied; deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label."
This perspective emphasises how we develop our sense of self through interactions with others. When society consistently treats someone as deviant, they may internalise this view and begin to see themselves through the lens of the deviant label. This shows how our identities are socially constructed through our interactions.
Understanding master status and deviant careers isn't just about recognising problems - it's also about finding solutions. Sociologists and social workers have identified several approaches that can help break the cycle:
When writing about master status and deviant careers in your exam, always connect these concepts to specific examples. Show how the process works in real life and consider both the individual and societal impacts. Remember to link these ideas to relevant theories like labelling theory and consider different perspectives on why people might adopt deviant identities.