Final answer:
Secondary deviants increase their participation in deviant activities after their self-concept changes due to being labeled as deviant, potentially making this deviant behavior a master status.
Step-by-step explanation:
Secondary deviants acquire deviant roles that significantly increase their participation in activities which are labelled as deviant or non-normative by society. This phenomenon occurs when an individual's self-concept and behavior begin to change after they are labeled as deviant by others. As an example, a student who is frequently reprimanded for cutting class may begin to internalize the label of a "troublemaker" and subsequently engage in more rule-breaking behavior, thereby transforming primary deviance into secondary deviance. This can eventually lead to the deviant behavior becoming a master status, overshadowing other aspects of their identity.
Various sociological theories attempt to explain this phenomenon. For instance, differential association theory suggests that individuals learn deviant behavior from those close to them, while labeling theory focuses on the significance of societal labels in developing a deviant identity. Both theories are vital in understanding how secondary deviance perpetuates and potentially escalates deviant behavior.