This second part is probably more accessible to readers i and it can be read separately. The labeling theory is based upon the idea that one is not considered deviant through their actions, but instead deviance is built upon from people negatively judging an individual with disparate behavioral tendencies from the cultural norm. According to the modified labeling theory of mental illness, when an individual is diagnosed with a mental illness, cultural ideas associated with the mentally ill become personally relevant and foster negative selffeelings. He argued that society views certain actions as deviant. Applying labeling theory to interactions and interactional analysis. The theory treats such labels as both a dependent variable effect and an independent variable cause. Dissatisfaction with the present state of the theory emphasizes its overconcern with deviant categories with a subsequent failure to adequately. Originating in howard beckers work in the 1960s, labeling theory explains why peoples behavior clashes with social norms. From the time of tannenbaum 1938, lemert 1951 up to becker 1963, the labeling theory has been described as the dramatization of evil and the description of the concept of self. Labeling theory states that people come to identify and behave in ways that reflect how others label them.
According to the labeling theory, an individual who commits actions that are frowned upon by society, becomes regarded as a criminal or. Mertons discussions of innovators, rebels, and conformers. The relationship between recidivism, labeling, deviant. Individuals are not naturally deviant in their actions and behaviors until a social group defines them that way. Labeling theory contends that an acquisition of a criminal status can be very problematic. For example, a teenager who lives in an urban area frequented by gangs. Labeling theorists proposed that the official assignment of a criminal label will lead a labeled individual to take on an identity consistent with that meaning and will. Labeling theory posits that selfidentity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them. According to the labeling theory, an individual who commits actions that are frowned upon by society, becomes regarded as a criminal or a deviant only when he is labeled as such. Labeling theory matsueda major reference works wiley. Other antecedents of the explicit theory include erving goffman s stigma, robert k.
In 1966, labeling theory was first applied to the term mentally ill when thomas scheff published being mentally ill. Labeling an individual for deviant behavior has serious and negative repercussion for that person. Scheff challenged common perceptions of mental illness by claiming that mental illness is evident as a result of societal influence. The labeling theory in criminology studies is the social thought of symbolic interactionism as to the individuals interpretation and reaction to the response of the label. The scientific status of labeling theory has improved considerably in recent years. Labeling theory explains how the identity and behavior of people are influenced by how society has classified them. As such, behaviours become deviant when those that are conforming to the norms attach labels to those that are not conforming. Primary deviance is a violation of norms that does not result in any longterm effects on the individuals selfimage or interactions with others. My goal is to examine the grounds on which labelling theory calls itself critical. This theory was given by howard becker who tried to understand, not in the causes behind the deviant behavior but rather which behavior was considered deviant and. The fourth main sociological theory of deviance is labeling theory. Merton s discussions of innovators, rebels, and conformers, frank tannenbaum s wonder at the actual normalcy of. This begins with the creation of rules that define deviance.
If you need help writing your assignment, please use our research paper writing service and buy a paper on any topic at affordable price. Exploring the role of diagnosis in the modified labeling. Labeling theory the belief that individuals subconsciously notice how others see or label them, and their reactions to those labels over time form the basis of their self identity being labeled a deviant will cause people to do more deviant acts since they were already labeled. May 17, 2010 labeling theory is the idea that if a group defines a label in a certain way and applies that label to a person, that persons identity changes to that definition of the label. Labeling theory is also connected to other fields besides crime. This sample labeling theory research paper is published for educational and informational purposes only. It may seem like an innocent definition, however, it. Speeding is a deviant act, but receiving a speeding ticket generally does not make others view you as a bad. Other antecedents of the explicit theory include erving goffmans stigma, robert k. Labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins can be traced to.
Labeling theory highlights social responses to crime american sociologists. Propositions endemic to labeling theory, and variables particularly relevant to these propositions, are combined into a guiding paradigm. According to labeling theory becker, 1963, deviance is not an intrinsic feature of behavior. American sociologist george herbert meads theory framing social construction of the self as a process involving interactions with others also influenced its development. Consistent with labeling theory, formal labeling significantly increased future delinquency. The effects of labeling and stereotype threat on offender. Labeling theory refers to the idea that individuals become deviant when a deviant label is applied to them. Labeling theory the handbook of juvenile delinquency and. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not inherent to an act, but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those.
In sociology, labeling theory is the view of deviance according to which being labeled as a deviant leads a person to engage in deviant behavior. Fraternities and gangs cristina masiello pace university. That person becomes that label as a kind of selffulfilling prophecy. The stigma associated with mental illness results in discrimination, loss of socioeconomic status, lowered sense of selfworth, and increased symptoms. Labeling theory article about labeling theory by the free. Labeling theory definition by babylons free dictionary. These processes all generally involve four key steps. It has been tagged as symbolic interaction and social construction. Article information, pdf download for labeling theory and life stories of juvenile. Labeling social reaction theory labeling theory is so named becuase of its focus on the informal and formal application of stigmatizing, deviant labels or tags by society on some of its members. Labeling theory labeling theory links modified labeling theory.
Labeling theory emphasizes that formal labeling, police and criminal just ice labeling in particular, is a salient source of labeling. Howard beckers work is more frequently cited than that of any other labeling theorist. A reaction resulting in the definition of the behavior and actor as being deviant. Generally, an ebook can be downloaded in five minutes or less. Labeling theory was created by howard becker in 1963. At the heart of the labeling theory debate will remain inclusion and exclusion, and the effects that labeling has on a person breaking the cycle of deviance and criminality. Labeling theory is a theory to understand deviance in the society, this theory is focused more on trying to understand how people react to behavior that happens around them and label it as deviant or nondeviant. The intellectual roots of labeling theory can be traced to the work of charles horton cooley, william. Labelling theorists argue no act is inherently criminal or deviant in itself, in all situations and all times. Teacher expectations and their effects on students academic performance the transition to high school initially, many scholars hypothesized that the transition to high school was difficult for all students.
As much as people would like to believe that there is a way to create a type of community that has no crime, psychologists and other experts in the field of criminology have done research and created various hypotheses which show that. The stages of his model are 1 the extent to which people believe that mental patients will be devalued and discriminated against by other members of. Labeling theory takes the view that people become criminals when labeled as such and when they accept the label. Labeling theory is based on the notion that certain members in society have the ability to construct and apply attributes to other members of the same society becker, 1963.
It is that nature of societys reaction to the act which makes it deviant. The assumption behind the theory is that, in an essence no action can be considered as criminal. Labeling theory in a previous lesson, we discussed deviance. Such a synthesis of labeling theory and personal construct theory will not only go a long way towards answering the major criticisms leveled against labeling theory but will provide a multivariable theory of criminal behavior, one which can take both subjective and objective factors into consideration. However, its core ideas can be traced back to the work of founding french sociologist emile durkheim. In 1989, links modified labeling theory expanded the original framework of labeling theory to include a fivestage process of labeling as it pertained to mental illness. In 1966, labeling theory was first applied to the term mentally ill when thomas sche.
Labeling theory article about labeling theory by the. Labeling theory hypothesizes that the labels applied to individuals influence their behavior, particularly that the application of negative or stigmatizing labels promotes deviant behavior. Labeling theory was developed by sociologists during the 1960s. Originating in sociology and criminology, labeling theory also known as social reaction theory was developed by sociologist howard becker. Labeling theory is the theory of how the selfidentity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them. The relativity of deviance is underscored by labeling theorists definition of deviance. The second part of my examination was made in the spring of 1976. The labeling approach is concerned with how and why the label is attached to someone, focusing especially on the extralegal attributes of those who are labeled, and how the experience of being labeled affects both the individuals self.
Labelling theory underpins the role of society in defining behaviour. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not inherent in an act, but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as. Society and the labeling theory there is a dichotomy that exists in todays society between the privileged and the. Components of this labeling paradigm are then tested in an experimentally controlled police diversion project in which juvenile offenders of midrange seriousness are randomly assigned to release, community.
As much as people would like to believe that there is a way to create a type of community that has no crime, psychologists and other experts in the field of criminology have done research and created various hypotheses which show. The application of a label often negative from one societal group to another results in the creation of an other. Labeling theory is a sociological theory that states that a strong, societal reaction to an individuals wrongdoing can lead the individual to become more deviant, based largely on the principles of symbolic interactionism. This theory is most commonly associated with the sociology of crime since labeling someone unlawfully deviant can lead to poor conduct. For instance there is the labeling theory that corresponds to homosexuality. Quiz 6 labeling theory is a theory a macrolevel b micro.
Labeling in the classroom, 3 labeling in the classroom. Labeling theory criminality is an unfortunate but inevitable component of human society. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not a quality of the act because it is the result of personality factors associated with committing deviance. Components of this labeling paradigm are then tested in an experimentally controlled police diversion project in which juvenile offenders of midrange seriousness are randomly assigned to release, community treatment, and court petition conditions. Labeling theory, in criminology, a theory stemming out of a sociological perspective known as symbolic interactionism, a school of thought based on the ideas of george herbert mead, john dewey, w. Popularity labeling theory was popular in the 1960s and early 1970s. It is associated with the concepts of selffulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. Labeling theory was named because of its focus on the application of stigmatizing deviant labels or tags by society on some of its memb ers. Labeling theory and life stories of juvenile delinquents.
The theory treats such labels as a dependent variable and an independent variable, effect and cause. It focuses on the linguistic tendency of majorities to. Crime and social deviants are dilemma in the world. Robbing a store and driving faster than the speed limit.
Secondly, that those that are so labelled tend to behave as characterised by the. It is often used in the criminology field or in studies defining deviant behavior. Describing an individual as deviant and then treating them as such may result in mental disorder or delinquency also called societal reaction theory and th. Essentially, labeling theory suggests that people define and construct their identities based upon societys perceptions of them. First, is the view that people tend to behave the way they are labelled. In light of developments in the understanding of the causes and treatment of mental illness, the theory has undergone modification from its original version to show how internalized stigma affects well. Thomas, charles horton cooley, and herbert blumer, among others. Criminal behavior is defined by those people who are in power and. Criminal behavior is defined by those people who are in power and interpreted by the law enforcement agencies and courts.
Labeling theory is situated within the symbolic interactionist framework which suggests that one. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and figures. Symbolic interactionism and deviance introduction to. Sociologist edwin lemert expanded on the concepts of labeling theory and identified two types of deviance that affect identity formation. Labeling theory links modified labeling theory britannica. Yet becker has written a number of illuminating comments on the straw theory nearly everyone takes to be labeling theory 1973.
Apr 20, 2014 the broad definition of restorative justice encompasses many forms including victimoffender mediation, indirect communication through third parties, and restitution or reparation payments. Core definition a social theory, originally applied to the study of deviance, that explores the influence labels have on the formation of identity. Howard saul beckers book outsiders was extremely influential in the development of this theory and its rise to popularity. The idea of labeling theory flourished in american sociology during the 1960s, thanks in large part to sociologist howard becker. According to this perspective, there is no behavior, status, or characteristic that is inherently deviant. A hallmark of labeling theory is the observation that labels are not distributed equally in society, but rather are disproportionately applied to the powerless, the disadvantaged, and the poor. Mental illness and labeling theory markowitz major. The first as well as one of the most prominent labeling theorists was howard becker, who published his groundbreaking work. Labeling theory common labels stereotypes preppy nerds stoner redneck ghetto loser dumb ugly judgemental religious emo sexist abusive controlling irresponsible selfish whore fake fag insecure labeling theory. Family, peer group and adaptation of delinquent behavior goffmans absence is also conspicuous in the section a sociological approach to becoming, where tepperman discusses the forerunners and developers of symbolic. According to the french sociologist emile durkheim, the broad themes of labeling theory are located in the definition of crime as necessarily relative.
Labeling theory also referred to as societal reaction theory analyzes how social groups create and apply definitions for deviant behavior. Also check our tips on how to write a research paper, see the lists of criminal justice research paper topics, and browse research paper examples. Labelling theory is a result of the work of howard becker. There are a number of fundamental issues that the labelling theory attempts to explain. Labeling theory is an explanatory framework that accounts for these effects. The approach examines how deviant labels emerge, how some social groups develop the power to impose deviant labels onto selected others, and the consequences of being labeled deviant. View the article pdf and any associated supplements and figures for a period of 48 hours. Ac cording to the labeling theorists, what constitutes deviant behavior is. Crimes are social constructionssomeone must be called a criminal in order for them to be recognized as a criminal.
386 1042 1094 1032 1278 698 768 1410 522 62 965 15 965 1262 693 163 1058 264 1311 981 584 989 409 1400 58 1474 1286 796 1412 992 276 1470 394 203 713 731 350 1305 875