Lemert, Edwin M.: Primary and Secondary Deviance

Michael J. Rosenberg

Edwin M. Lemert posited the notion of primary and secondary deviance in his 1951 text Social Pathology . The discussion of these distinct forms of deviance took only a few pages, but the effect on various theories of criminal behavior, particularly labeling theory, were rich and far-reaching. Lemert further delved into this dichotomy in his 1967 Human Deviance, Social Problems, and Social Control , painting a fuller picture of how he believed that societal reactions to a violation of social norms could lead an individual to continued violation of these norms (including the commission of crimes) and an eventual self-identification with behaviors and groups existing outside of the established (i.e., mainstream) societal framework. According to Lemert, this self-identification would cement an individual's status in society as that of a deviant. For Lemert, primary deviance is behavior that departs from a social norm yet causes no long-term consequences for the offender. ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.