Paedophilia and sex crimes in conext of labelling theory and the interactionist approach

Over the years, many different theories have emerged that attempt to explain the actions of those described as criminals or deviants. These have proved the source of great debate among sociologists and criminologists, but there is not necessarily one that is a definitive explanation. It is important to remember that crime and deviance are not one and the same, although they are intrinsically linked. Perhaps it is useful to first define what is meant by …

… paedophilia, and the introduction of strict new criminal justice policies, the public are now well aware that such abuse takes place. Some claim that the risk is blown out of all proportion, which, given the low incidence of child sex abuse, is probably true. However, the primary concern must be protecting the children, and although the increased sensitivity to this type of crime will not eliminate it, it can certainly help defend innocent victims.