Master status
A master status is a primary identity that overrides others and shapes how people are perceived and treated; being labelled 'criminal' becomes a master status dominating all other identities.
Real World
When former US President Richard Nixon was publicly labelled a criminal following Watergate, his decades of political service and foreign policy achievements were eclipsed; 'crook' became his defining identity in public memory.
Exam Focus
Link master status to the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy to build evaluation chains that access top Level 3 marks.
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