Labelling Theory - 1612 Words

LABELING THEORY Labeling theory, which is also known as social reaction theory, explains how criminal careers are based on destructive social interactions and encounters. EVOLUTION OF THE LABELING THEORY- Howard Becker developed his theory of labeling in the 1963 book Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Beckers theory evolved during a period of social and political power struggle that was amplified within the world of the college campus. Liberal political movements were embraced by many of the college students and faculty in America. Howard Becker harnessed this liberal influence and adjusted Lemerts labeling theory and its symbolic interaction theoretical background. The labeling theory outlined in Outsiders is recognized†¦show more content†¦#61656; Joining Deviant Cliques- children labeled as deviant may join similarly outcaste delinquent peers who facilitate their behavior. Eventually antisocial behavior becomes habitual and automatic. #61656; Retrospective Reading- it is a process in which the past of the labeled person is reviewed and reevaluated to fit his current status. This tends to redefine the whole person. #61656; Dramatization of Evil- the stigmatized offenders start reevaluating their own identity and due to the fuss made by everybody, begin to behave expected by them. #61656; ‘Primary deviance and ‘secondary deviance- According to Lemert, primary deviance is the initial incidence of an act causing an authority figure to label the actor deviant. This initial labeling of a deviant act will remain primary as long as the actor can rationalize or deal with the process as a function of a socially acceptable role. If the labeled deviant reacts to this process by accepting the deviant label, and further entrenches his/herself in deviant behavior, this is referred to as secondary deviance. Secondary deviance produces a deviance amplification effect. • The social agencies originally designed for crime control are responsible for criminal career formation. CRIME AND LABELING THEORY- • The interactional definition of crime is used. As per sociologist Kai Erickson, Deviance is not a property inherent in certain forms of behavior, it is a property conferredShow MoreRelatedLabelling Theory And Robert Agnew s General Strain Theory1676 Words   |  7 Pagesas Howard Becker’s Labelling theory and Robert Agnew ’s General Strain Theory presents ideas on how the sociological environment plays a factor in shaping individuals and leading them to resort to choices such as drug use. The Labelling theory is a concept in which the stigmatization of placing identity markers through pre-conceived notions and judgments can lead to a personal internalization of the imposed label which in turn can lead to deviance (Citation). The Strain Theory is an idea centeredRead MoreLabelling Theory And Robert Agnew s General Strain Theory1651 Words   |  7 PagesHoward Becker’s Labelling theory and Robert Agnew ’s General Strain Theory presents ideas on how the sociological environment plays a factor into shaping individuals and leading them to resort to choices such as drug use. The Labelling theory is a concept in which the stigmatization of placing identity markers through pre-conceived notions and judgements can lead to a personal internalization of the imposed label which in turn can lead to deviance (Erikson,1964,417-419). The Strain Theory is an idea centeredRead MoreLabelling Theory2112 Words   |  9 PagesLabeling theory had its origins in Suicide, a book by French sociologist Émile Durkheim. He found that crime is not so much a violation of a penal code as it is an act that outrages society. He was the first to suggest that deviant labeling satisfies that function and satisfies society s need to control the behavior. As a contributor to American Pragmatism and later a member of the Chicago School, George Herbert Mead posited that the self is socially constructed and reconstructed through the interactionsRead MoreLabelling Theory And Its Elements Essay1215 Words   |  5 Pagesvital such as labelling theory and its elements, accusations, and how this article relates to Becker’s article Outsiders. Becker also discusses how labelling theory helped transformed how us researchers understand crime and deviance. Labelling theory is well-known for its for its focus of inquiry and how different types of act as well as individuals come to be labelled as what one would consider deviant. There are labellers and the labelled. A labeller is an individual who is labelling one of a deviantRead MoreLabelling Theory2875 Words   |  12 Pagesthe looking glass self is that people define themselves according to society s perception of them (www.d.umn.edu ). Cooley s ideas, coupled with the works of Mead, are very important to labeling theory and its approach to a person s acceptance of labels as attached by society. George Mead s theory is less concerned with the micro-level focus on the deviant and more concerned with the macro-level process of separating the conventional and the condemned (Pfohl 1994). In Mind, Self, and SocietyRead More labelling theory Essay2778 Words   |  12 Pagesof t he looking glass self is that people define themselves according to societys perception of them (www.d.umn.edu ). Cooleys ideas, coupled with the works of Mead, are very important to labeling theory and its approach to a persons acceptance of labels as attached by society. George Meads theory is less concerned with the micro-level focus on the deviant and more concerned with the macro-level process of separating the conventional and the condemned (Pfohl 1994). In Mind, Self, and SocietyRead MoreLabelling Theory And Its Impact On Society1629 Words   |  7 PagesRather than taking a glance at why some social groups carry out more crime, the labelling theory inquires as to why a few individuals carrying out some activities come to be characterized as deviant, while others may not. Labelling theory is likewise intrigued by the impacts of labelling on people. Many theorists note that the vast majority carry out crime sooner or later in their lives however not everybody gets to be characterized as a deviant or a criminal. So how can this procedure of characterizingRead MoreThe Strengths Of Labelling Theory And Differential Association Theory1703 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper I argue that Labelling Theory can explain the factor of low socioeconomic status while Differential Association Theory can explain how the factor of family as reasons why some youth join gangs. This paper compares the relative strengths and weaknesses of Differential Association theory and Labelling theory and I argue that Labelling Theory offers the most compelling theoretical perspective to help account for how these factors influence youth to join gangs. I also argue that unlikeRead MoreThe Role Of Labelling Theory And Differential Association Theory1985 Words   |  8 Pageson two contemporary criminological theories and their application to the crime film, Eastern Promises. The two theories to be discussed, and subsequently applied to the film, are labelling theory and differential association theory. Labelling theory falls under the symbolic interactionist approach, and the primary level of analysis of this theory is micro, as it tends to focus on the effect of labels on an individual’s sense of â€Å"self†. The basis of labelling theory is that no act is inherently deviant;Read MoreLabelling Theory: A Program for Dealing with Crime932 Words   |  4 Pageshappens when we expand this form of â€Å"labelling† to spli t up types of people? When we assume character traits about those who belong to a certain group, this can intensely affect the way many react in life. Those who are judged for their sexual orientation, gender, income, mental problems etc., may eventually begin to conform to a stereotype that they belong to. In turn, this stereotyping may be the reason for certain people to partake in deviance acts. Labelling theory takes a micro and consensualist