Criminology – CRM406 Abertay University - 1905590
Abertay University
CRM406
Language of Crime
Essay Question 2 – Discourse Analysis
Discourse Analysis (DA)
Discourse refers to written and spoken text, used to understand social constructionism of
one’s reality or social group, embedded in the foundations of constructed interaction. We
use discourse to interact, build relationships with others and most importantly it constructs
meaning that has individual or group relevance (Jones, 2012). Discourse analysis is the study
of language whereby analysts examine written text or utterances and how they are
structured. Discourse analysis looks at what people ‘do’ with text, how it can be constructed
or may impact society (Potter, 1987). Austin (1962) Speech Act Theory claims people ‘do
things with words’, to perform communicative actions that can result in a refute response
from society (Potter, 1987).
Ethnomethodology unfolds three principle components of discourse analysis: function,
construction, and variability (Potter, 1987). To be clear, we use language as a function of
how to act upon a social phenomenon. For example, to persuade, to blame, to integrate
conversation, and to build a following or a response from others. There are many functional
ways we can use language, to engage with others in society, to imbue ideas. For example,
we can construct language to build relationships by sharing common interests of social
phenomenon we find relatable (Jones, 2012). Potter explains that language can be used to
construct the reality around us (Potter, 1987). We all have our own opinions and ideas
about the world we live in, shared through conversation or written text. People may follow
these ideologies and others may find it false or dubious (Potter, 1987). Discourse analysis
does not look for consistency or patterns within individual realities or beliefs. Variation of
discourse is dependent on the individual’s perception of the social phenomenon and the
function the text plays. There are many variables of how the function of a text or utterance
plays to construct discourse (Potter, 1987).
, Criminology – CRM406 Abertay University - 1905590
Analysts use diverse perspectives of discourse analysis to interpret the social worlds view of
social phenomenon within written discourse. Three of which are known as interpretive
repertories, discursive psychology, and critical discourse analysis perspectives. This essay
will focus in on just two of these, discursive psychology, and critical discourse analysis; and
how they are used to address the representation of crime within the media. Both
perceptions of discourse analysis look for patterns within language that relate to wider
social themes.
Discursive Psychology (DP)
Discursive psychology (DP) must not be mistaken for psychological analysis of what is
‘inside-the-head’, it is not a cognitive approach. In discourse analysis studies, DP is used to
analyse the ‘business psychology’ perception of language. This means analysts address
psychological matters within spoken or written text that relate to the wider social structures
or ideologies of psychology within the social world. Discursive psychology is a lot like
techniques used by conversation analysists. It perceives the matter discussed as a true
ideological or structural topic, with no further subjectivity, and is based on naturally
occurring spoken interaction (Molder, 2015). In a crime setting, DP investigates the moral
identities of the people involved in the crime, and their construction of memories.
Moral identities tell how people involved in a crime present themselves in the social world.
Discursive psychology, like critical discourse analysis, can take interest in political
phenomena. However, it looks further than the surrounding ideologies, by looking at the
way an individual person says something. This is done by looking at the way people display
emotions, intellect, or deviousness (Potter, 2010). Like critical discourse analysis, DP
analysists can use an ‘essentialist notion’ by looking for social problems within the
discourse. Verkuyten explains that an individual’s attitude towards social or political themes,
are accounted for, by categorising the individual’s engagement or response. Categories that
are looked for within the text can be moral and ethical considerations or concerns, for
example, racism or gender differences (Verkuyten, 2010). John Holland’s theory of
personality-matching demonstrates how an individual’s career path is selected by
personality. This psychological theory used within DP entices a ‘naturally’ sequenced
