Labeling theory had its origins in suicide, a book by. Labeling theories in criminology, 2015 your bibliography. He found that crime is not so much a violation of a penal code as it is an act that outrages society. Labeling theory is a vibrant area of research and theoretical development within the field of criminology. Labeling theory argues that people become deviant as a result of people forcing that identity upon them and then adopting the identity. Pdf sociological theory and medical sociology download. The first as well as one of the most prominent labeling theorists was howard becker, who published his groundbreaking work. Sociological theories of deviance social sci libretexts. Conflict theory suggests that deviant behaviors result from social, political, or material inequalities in a social group. He was the first to suggest that deviant labeling satisfies that function and satisfies societys need to.
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. Conflict theory suggests that deviant behaviors result from social, political, or material inequalities of a social group. Labeling theory is also connected to other fields besides crime. He describes deviance in relation to the labeling theory as that. Becker is often called a symbolic interactionist or social. Labeling theory, influenced by symbolic interactionism.
A compulsively readable and thoroughly researched exploration of social deviance and the application of what is known as labeling theory to the studies of deviance. Labeling theory is based on the notion of behaviors and whether they are deemed deviant in society. Part of the handbooks of sociology and social research book series hssr. Studies in the sociology of deviance 1963, views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. Scheff challenged common perceptions of mental illness by claiming that mental illness is evident as a result of societal influence. Lesson objectives introduce the labelling theory to crime and deviance be able to apply labelling theory to examples of crime and deviance evaluate labelling theory 3. Nov 27, 2018 labeling theory argues that, from a sociological perspective, what counts is this designation. Pdf sociological theory and medical sociology download full. The main theorist within labelling theory howard becker illustrates how crime is the product of social interactions by using the example of a fight between young people. The fourth main sociological theory of deviance is labeling theory. Thomas, charles horton cooley, and herbert blumer, among others. Labeling theory implies a policy of nonintervention. 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. Jun 30, 2008 one of the most groundbreaking sociology texts of the mid20th century, howard s.
Howard saul becker born april 18, 1928 is an american sociologist who has made major contributions to the sociology of deviance, sociology of art, and sociology of music. The theory treats such labels as both a dependent variable effect and an independent variable cause. Labeling theory argues that, from a sociological perspective, what counts is this designation. In a seminal sociology book, erving goffman 1959 demonstrated the ways in which others perceive an individual as being crucially important to how that individual outwardly presents himor herself. According to becker, deviance is not an intrinsic feature of behavior. Originating in the mid to late1960s in the united states at a moment of tremendous political and cultural conflict, labeling theorists brought to center stage the role of government agencies, and social processes in general, in the creation of deviance and crime. They are fluid and tied less to truth than to our social circumstances.
Meaning acts only become deviant when observers perceive it and define it as deviant. Deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an offender. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of. The book not only addresses the major theoretical approaches in the field today, it also identifies the future directions these theories are likely to take in explaining the social processes affecting health and disease. Theories of deviance cliffsnotes study guides book. You have reached your limit for free articles this month. Learn sociology labelling theory with free interactive flashcards. One of the most groundbreaking sociology texts of the mid20th century, howard s.
Labeling theory had its origins in suicide, a book by french sociologist emile durkheim. This chapter extracts a current account of the research on the labeling theory of crime. It focuses on the linguistic tendency of majorities to. Labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins can be traced to. Howard saul beckers book outsiders was extremely influential in the development of this theory and its rise to popularity. History has proven that labeling has occupied the minds of many influential people. Critics of labeling theory indicate that the theory only applies to a small number of deviants, because such people are actually caught and labeled as deviants. Beckers 1963 book outsiders is credited as one of the first books on labeling theory and its application to studies of deviance. The idea of labeling theory flourished in american sociology during the 1960s, thanks in large part to sociologist howard becker. He argued that crime is not so much a violation of a penal code as it is an act that outrages society. Chicago school of sociology howard beckers approach to the labeling of deviance, as described in outsiders. 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 labelling theory was developed and popularised by american sociologist howard s. Sep 02, 2017 labeling theory was first proposed by howard s. Labeling theory has the power to give individuals in society to place labels on other individuals within society. Dec 11, 2009 originating in sociology and criminology, labeling theory also known as social reaction theory was developed by sociologist howard becker. 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. Crime and deviance functionalist approach rachel jones. Ebook or pdf edited book email encyclopedia article govt. Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label. The scientific status of labeling theory has improved considerably in recent years. Theory suggest that, people tend to act and behave as they are labeled by other people. Labeling theory was developed by sociologists during the 1960s.
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. Labeling entails that the identity assigned to an individual is in some respect altered to his discredit. Popularity labeling theory was popular in the 1960s and early 1970s. Labeling theory provides a distinctively sociologica l approach that focuses on. Labeling theory refers to the idea that individuals become deviant when a deviant label is applied to them. Labeling social reactiontheory 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. Labelling theory sociology bibliographies cite this for me. Labeling theory argues that although deviant behavior may initially stem from various causes and conditions, once individuals are labeled as deviants, especially if they are labeled by criminal justice agents which happens disproportionally to members of disadvantaged social groups, they may. Labeling theory had its origins in suicide, a book by french sociologist mile durkheim. Acts and individuals are not inherently deviant until some social groups can successfully define them that way. Labelling theory is a result of the work of howard becker.
Labeling theory posits that selfidentity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or. Beckers outsiders is a thorough exploration of social deviance and how it can be addressed in an understanding and helpful manner. Beckers famous book outsiders is known to be the manifesto of the labeling theory movement among many sociologists. Other theories of deviance attempt to explain the incidence or prevalence of concretely real acts with concretely real consequences robbery, adultery, murder, drug use, rape, and the like. Labeling theory states that people come to identify and behave in ways that reflect how others label them. American sociologist george herbert meads theory framing social construction of the self as a process involving interactions with others also influenced its development.
A social theory, originally applied to the study of deviance, that explores the influence labels have on the formation of identity. The labelling theory of crime is associated with interactionism the key ideas are that crime is socially constructed, agents of social control label the powerless as deviant and criminal based on stereotypical assumptions and this creates effects such as the selffulfilling prophecy, the criminal career and deviancy amplification interactionists argue that people do not become criminals. Labeling theory was created by howard becker in 1963. Labelling theories contribution to the sociological understanding of crime and deviance becker is the main sociologist studying labelling theory on deviance, he argues that social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance. Choose from 500 different sets of sociology labelling theory flashcards on quizlet. Feb 12, 2016 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. The labelling theory of crime is associated with interactionism the key ideas are that crime is socially constructed, agents of social control label the powerless as deviant and criminal based on stereotypical assumptions and this creates effects such as the selffulfilling prophecy, the criminal career and deviancy amplification. Labeling theory has the power to give individuals in society to place labels on other individuals within. Labeling theory argues that people, such as punks, become deviant as a result of people forcing that identity upon them and then adopting the identity the third main sociological theory of deviance is conflict theory.
Howard saul becker refers specifically to studies of marijuana smokers and dance band musicians labelling theory is a result of the work of howard becker. Labelling theory underpins the role of society in defining behaviour. The labeled individual might become more offensive towards the people who labeled. Dec 17, 20 labeling theory is based on the notion of behaviors and whether they are deemed deviant in society. Labelling theory sociology bibliographies in harvard style. Labeling theory highlights social responses to crime american sociologists howard s. When an individual in the society is labelled as criminal, it compels him to commit more crimes. Theories of crime and deviance boundless sociology. People such as judges or police officers are primarily the ones who do much of the labeling in society today. Jan 23, 2019 the labelling theory was developed and popularised by american sociologist howard s. 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. Macionis, j and plummer, k 2005 sociology a global introduction, pearson education limited.
For various reasons, only certain people are labeled as deviant because of this behavior. Originating in sociology and criminology, labeling theory also known as social reaction theory was developed by sociologist howard becker. This theory is most commonly associated with the sociology of crime since labeling someone unlawfully deviant can lead to poor conduct. He argued that society views certain actions as deviant. This research fed into his widely read and cited book outsiders, which is considered one of the first texts to develop labeling theory, which postulates that people adopt deviant behavior that breaks social norms after they have been labeled deviant by others, by social institutions, and by the criminal justice system.
Labeling theory takes the view that people become criminals when labeled as such and when they accept the label as a personal identity. Sociologist howard becker is credited with the most influential formulation of labeling theory, which appears in his book outsiders 1973. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not a quality of the act because it is the result of personality factors associated with committing deviance. Although underscoring the salience of formal labeling, the. Pdf labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins can be traced to durkheim. Labeling theory argues that people become deviant as a result of. The basic idea is that the labels we use every day are socially constructed. The theory labeling theory holds that on some occasion everybody shows behavior that can be called deviant.
Upon assuming the position of director, horkheimer delivered an inaugural address on january. Labelling theories contribution to the sociological. Describing someone as a criminal, for example, can cause others to treat the person more negatively, and, in turn, the individual acts out. My goal is to examine the grounds on which labelling theory calls itself critical. In 1966, labeling theory was first applied to the term mentally ill when thomas scheff published being mentally ill. Mar 22, 2019 this research fed into his widely read and cited book outsiders, which is considered one of the first texts to develop labeling theory, which postulates that people adopt deviant behavior that breaks social norms after they have been labeled deviant by others, by social institutions, and by the criminal justice system. For instance there is the labeling theory that corresponds to homosexuality. As such, behaviours become deviant when those that are conforming to the norms attach labels to those that are not conforming. Pdf labeling theory provides a distinctively sociological approach that focuses on the role of. Becker also wrote extensively on sociological writing styles and methodologies. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of deviance and by doing so. In a lowincome neighbourhood, a fight is more likely to be defined by the police as evidence of delinquency, but in a wealthy area as evidence of high spirits. Taylor et al, 1973 the new criminology for a social theory of devience, routledge.
Haralambos, m and holborn 1991 sociology themes and perspectives, collins education. Critical theory and the crisis of social theory by douglas. Although becker does not claim to be a deviancy specialist, his work on the subject is often cited by sociologists and criminologists studying deviance. Pdf goffmans theory of stigmatisation and labelling. Labeling theory also referred to as societal reaction theory analyzes how social groups create and apply definitions for deviant behavior. Labeling theory view deviance from symbolic interaction and conflict perspective.