Copyright 2023 CustomWritings. Control Strategy: Control theory advances the proposition that weak bonds between the individual and society allow people to deviate. He said that due to their illness, they behave differently most of the time and are hence treated as such. Despite my relatively young age, I am a professional writer with more than 14 years of experience. In schools, those that come from a working class family or a lower class, the youth gangs are seen as trouble makers compared to the middle class gangs who are labelled as pranksters instead. This theory is widely credited to be the forerunner of the present day labelling theory. This increased involvement in deviant groups stems from Two-Factors. Most studies found a positive correlation between formal labeling and subsequent deviant behavior, and a smaller but still substantial number found no effect (Huizinga and Henry, 2008). This essay will go on to show the origins of labelling theory, the theory itself and will show its strengths and weaknesses using various case-studies and examples. In schools, those that come from a working class family or a lower class, the youth gangs are seen as trouble makers compared to the middle class gangs who are labelled as pranksters instead. These labels are informal (Kavish, Mullins, and Soto, 2016). If she lives in Illinois, where the use of medical marijuana is legal and decriminalized, she will have no problem purchasing and using it. The last drawback of the labelling theory is that the personality of the individual matters. He questioned fifty of those users and found that they did not have any pre-dispositional behaviour towards it. (1984). According to Erwin Lemerts Societal Reaction, a person goes through two phases of social deviance: The labeling theory explains that an individual succumbs to his deviant identity when hes labeled as such by society. Bernburg, J. G., Krohn, M. D., & Rivera, C. J. Different audiences may have different reactions to a crime and thus the punishment and the labelling will vary even though the same crime is being committed. He therefore suggested that the actual act is impertinent to the theory. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. As a result, those from lower-classes and minority communities are more likely to be labeled as criminals than others, and members of these groups are likely to be seen by others as associated with criminality and deviance, regardless of whether or not they have been formally labeled as a criminal. It is those that in power choose to classify actions as such through law-making. Strengths of the Labeling Theory Those who support the theory see its strengths in: Making it easier to understand deviant behavior. Firstly, according to Wellford (1975) the theory states that no acts are inherently criminal, and states that acts are only criminal when society considers them to be so. Other theorists, such as Sampson and Laub (1990) have examined labeling theory in the context of social bonding theory. Zhang (1994a) examined the effects of the severity of the official punishment of delinquency on the probability that youths were estranged from parents, relatives, friends, and neighbors in the city of Tianjin, China. Early in the century, authorities labelled it criminal and illegal. Cooleys concept of the looking-glass self states how we These youths then go on to reject those that have labelled them and tend to set up their own criminal lifestyles consisting of criminal behaviour. London: Paladin, 107-119. fails to explain why deviant behaviour happens. Once they start to believe in their negative labels, self rejection occurs which plays a major role in the social rejection theory. Disadvantages. As the labelling theory states, the first is the audience learning about the act that is considered criminal and not the act itself. Bernburg, J. G. Chapter title: Labeling and Secondary Deviance. The biggest drawback one may say that affects labelling theory is that it has not yet been empirically validated. Formal and Informal Labeling Labeling theory was quite popular in the 1960s and early 1970s but then fell into decline partly as a result of the mixed results of empirical research (Criminal Law 2010). Coming from a research background in biology and archeology, Charlotte currently studies how digital and physical space shapes human beliefs, norms, and behaviors and how this can be used to create businesses with greater social impact. Criminology, 28(2), 183-206. This theory is widely credited to be the forerunner of the present day labelling theory. 3 Pages. criminals don't need labels to know . Learn How to Order Essay Online. that label (even if we object to it). Therefore, they are the ones who make the rules as to whats considered deviancy and mold the criminal justice system as to the definition of who are deviants. Take a look at some weird laws from around the world! Labeling theory is associated with the work of Becker and is a reaction to sociological theories which examined only the characteristics of the deviants, rather than the agencies which controlled them. This is summed up by differential association theory (Sutherland and Cressey, 1992), which states that being able to associate and interact with deviant people more easily leads to the transference of deviant attitudes and behaviors between those in the group, leading to further deviance. Criminology, 45(3), 547-581. Now it is legal. Now what about the important of labeling theory to a teacher and what are the strength and weakness in the classroom to the learners? Those who critic this theory say that the labeling theory: Mental health has been in the limelight in recent events as people realized its importance, creating a more welcoming attitude by the family members, friends, and employers to the labeled individual whos suffering from mental disorders. Labeling theory is an approach in the sociology of deviance that focuses on the ways in which the agents of social control attach stigmatizing stereotypes to particular groups, and the ways in which the stigmatized change their behavior once labeled. . However, more inclusive reviews of studies that examine how formal labeling affects subsequent behavior show more mixed results. As a result, the person can see themselves as a deviant (Bamburg, 2009). Its understanding is fundamental for those who wish to receive profound knowledge in many fields, including sociology and criminology. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Howard Becker (1963) is held to be the architect of the modern labelling theory. Erving Goffmans theory of dramaturgy explains that people use impression management to play their part in society. According to this theory, when people are labelled as deviant or criminal by society, they may internalize these labels and begin to act in ways that align with them. The main point of view is whether he or she has accepted the criminal label. Once arrested, these individuals face more severe sentences regardless of the seriousness of the offense (Bontrager, Bales, and Chiricos, 2007). It is applied to education in relation to teachers applying labels on their pupils in terms of their ability, potential or behaviour. The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Labelling Theory Labelling theory and its theorists focus on the groups and/or individuals who were deemed to be criminal and labelled thus by society. Labelling also involves both a wrong or deviant act and a deviant person. There are however several things that are wrong with the drawbacks. Studies have come across certain individuals that have personality traits which makes them resistant to the labels conferred on them by society. They then form bonds with like minded deviant peers. Becker (1953) wrote in his book, the Marijuana user, that the drug does not produce any addiction and that it has no withdraw sickness or any sort of substance that makes the user crave for the drug. Social sciences play an important role in the labeling theory. Thus we can say that labelling does have a profound effect but has yet to be shown that it was labelling that caused the illness in the first place. The community will despise them, and they can even resort to shaming. Youths are especially vulnerable to labelling theory. Jones, S (2009). Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1997). He said that labelling theory and the mentally ill have no influence on one another. An example would be that of homosexuality. uk/curric/soc/crime/labelling/diakses pada, 10. In the early 1990s, the Chinese government frequently had political and social drives to deter crime and deviance through mobilizing the masses to punish deviants (Zhang, 1994b). Therefore Becker says that personal motives and the influence by society has nothing to do with criminal behaviour. We can thus conclude that labelling theory does have an effect, but is not the primary cause for most of the acts committed. Labeling can lead to blocked opportunities, such as reduced education and instability in employment; and, the weak conventional ties resulting from this lack of opportunity can create a long-lasting effect on adult criminal behavior. The first one mentions that murder, arson and so on are all criminal in most of the nations and societies. Further arguments about the use of labels have included that they lead to a wider and better understanding of certain needs that children may have, and thus there is more tolerance, and less. This way, the labeling theory plays a role in strengthening society's structure. The first phase is known as the Primary deviance phase. had bad storytelling and oratory skills were mocked. The labeling of convicted felons and its consequences for recidivism. Foster et al, 1972 say that in certain unique cases, the label of criminal may force an individual to integrate back into society and try and try and show them that the criminal act he or she committed was a mistake and will not happen again (cited in Labelling theory). He argues that being deviant is not inherent in a person, but rather, its built-in to society. Social control: An introduction: Polity.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'simplypsychology_org-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',863,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-simplypsychology_org-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'simplypsychology_org-leader-3','ezslot_23',864,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-simplypsychology_org-leader-3-0');Dunford, F. W., Huizinga, D., & Elliott, D. S. (1990). In Handbook on crime and deviance (pp. As it has already been explained, if the audience doesnt know about it then it is not a crime. In the future the mindset of society may change and acts that were previously considered to be criminal may be legalised. Stigma and social identity. Delinquency, situational inducements, and commitment to conformity. Secondly is the process of self-labelling. It fails to explain why people commit primary deviance in the first place before they are labeled. perceive ourselves depends in part on how others see us, so American Journal of Sociology. Nickerson, C. (2021, Oct 09). Labelling can have different aspects as well. This effect is so profound that Becker states that individuals with this label begin to be associated with the word criminal. I am interested in labeling theory. Lemert (1967) brought out the connection between social reaction and deviance through his studies and research of a number of Indian tribes in British Columbia. Sherman and Smith (1992) argued that this deterrence was caused by the increased stake in conformity employed domestic violence suspects have in comparison to those who are unemployed. This is very perfect information and clear explanation of the basics, thank you! According to Lemert, the primary deviance phase begins with a criminal act. Disclaimer: This essay has been written by a law student and not by our expert law writers. Those in economically depressed areas places where perpetrators were less likely to be able to hold down a job had less to lose by the conventional social tie of work, and recidivism with higher. They mention that the above mentioned factors can either enhance or mitigate the effects of labelling theory. Huizinga, D., & Henry, K. L. (2008). This goes against the labelling theory, which states that labelling must come from a third party. He would not label himself as a criminal as it was a necessary for him to do so. By clicking Proceed, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Walter Grove on the other hand was vehemently opposed to the theory proposed by Thomas Scheff. 179-196): Springer. Lemert states that there are exceptions and people continue to stay in the primary phase, an example would be someone who rationalizes that the so called criminal act is legal as it is necessary for them to survive and earn money (an exotic dancer would be an example). Principles of criminology: Altamira Press. You should not treat any information in this essay as being authoritative. Thomas Scheff (1966) published Being Mentally Ill, was the first instance of labelling theory being applied to the term of Mentally Ill. Conceptualizing stigma. Chriss, J. J. judgments, or labels, that modify It focuses on the reaction of society to the criminals behavior. The delinquent adolescent misbehaves, the authority responds by treating the adolescent like someone who misbehaves, and the adolescent responds in turn by misbehaving again. Those labeled as criminals or deviants regardless of whether this label was ascribed to them on virtue of their past acts or marginalized status experience attitudes of stigma and negative stereotyping from others. Labelling theorists studied the various interactions between the criminal groups and individuals and the conformist society. He goes on to say that the murderer may have a conscience which will cause him to label himself or herself as a murderer. Hagen (1973) brings about the concept of self-labelling, in which he states the example of a murderer who has avoided all suspicion (the act is not criminal if no one is around to witness it or label him). Howard Becker is an American sociologist who produced Outsiders in 1963 that talks about the Sociology of Deviance. He said that due to their illness, they behave differently most of the time and are hence treated as such. Howard Becker (1963) is held to be the architect of the modern labelling theory. 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