Using Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess the View That Crime and Deviance Are the Product of Labelling Processes.

The labelling theory shows how crime is socially constructed based on labels created by the powerful, which is important for our understanding of who commits a crime as they show how the powerless can be labelled as deviant whilst powerful groups are not. This undermines the

The labeling theory, an example of constructivist perspective is the theory put forth to define how deviance is experienced and why people continue to be deviant. The labeling theory was developed by a group of sociologists in the 1960’s. It is a version of symbolic interactionism defining deviance as a collective action involving the acts of more than one person, and the

Labeling theories are based on social constructs. "Labeling theory maintains that people are often led to believe the socially constructed definitions that are applied to them; therefor, they live up or otherwise embrace the stigmatizing characterizations assigned to them" (Arrigo 78). Furthermore, labeling theory argues that legal and mental health institutions' characterization of individuals as "guilty offenders" or "mentally ill" eventually become a part of an individual's identity so much so that it becomes a "debilitating, lifelong burden" (79). In an attempt to destabilize labels, criminal offenders sometimes deny responsibility through the use of neutralization techniques. These techniques include 1) the denial of responsibility; 2) denial of the victim; 3) denial of injury; 4) condemnation of the condemner; and 5) an appeal to higher loyalties (79). Labeling theories are heavily dependent on how society views individuals as these perspectives define the label the individual

Under labeling theory, criminal behavior is based on the state stamping the behavior as criminal, instead of criminal behavior being based on the harm that it causes. Thereafter, labels are influenced by society’s reactions. Lemert formulated this theory with emphasis on the importance of identity. He developed two types of deviance, primary and

Some sociologists believe that the cause of crime and deviance is labelling which is when a label is attached to a person or group of people due to their appearance, sex, ethnicity etc. Labelling theory argues that once this label has been attached it can create a self fulfilling prophecy, which is when the person begins to act according to the label and hence it comes true simply through being made. Labelling is similar to stereotyping but this is when a person assigns certain characteristics to a labelled group. An example to support this would be 9/11. Since this disaster people label Muslims as being terrorists

Many sociological experts use the theory to explain the different types of social deviance behavior. For this reason the theory provides various approaches of explaining a given deviance behavior; it is a generalized sociological crime theory. On the contrary, the labeling theory simply refers to any given or particular form of individualistic, emblematic interaction. The individualistic, emblematic interactions describe the conclusions, which individuals derive or

Frank Tannenbaum (1938) is often recognized as the original mastermind behind labeling theory, as he developed the ideas of this concept throughout his book titled Crime and the Community (Bell, 2012). However, at the time, his theoretical model was known as the “dramatization of evil” rather than labeling theory. Tannenbaum rejected earlier positivist theories, which argued that delinquents were identifiably different from law-abiding citizens (Bell, 2012). He instead recognized that the underlying causes of delinquency are deeper than that which lies in the individual, and noted how society can in fact work to create the criminal. Tannenbaum held that delinquency operates at a group – as opposed to individual – level, in the sense that certain groups become drawn to conflict and then individuals come to adjust to the conflict group (Tannenbaum, 1938). The question, then, is how individuals find themselves drawn to delinquent groups and why the groups themselves are in conflict with wider society. According to Tannenbaum, the development of a

For the interduction Francis T. Cullen, Robert Agnew, and Pamela Wilcox (253) do is introduce Labeling Theory in the chapter of Labeling, Interaction, Crime: Societal Reaction and the Creation of Criminals. The three go on to discuss the creation of criminals from secondary deviance (253). After discussing secondary deviance, they begin to inform us about the rise and fall of Labeling Theory (Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox). Next Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox (256) begin to explain some new contemporary theories. Finally they discuss how Labeling Theory could affect policy. In the second part of this chapter Edwin M. Lemert (263) discusses primary and secondary deviance. The first thing Lemert (264) talks about is types of deviance. He goes on to explain

Within the study of deviance, the labeling perspective as well as symbolic interactionism aid in our understanding of the stigmatizing process that takes place. More specifically, these theories help us understand the process of being labeled by other individuals, and our response to this labeling

In trying to understand crime and societies impact on the individual criminal, we can look towards many theories. The labeling theory, which society can share the blame for as well, categorizes criminals who are simply filling their role. It is applied to a specific class of people to include criminal, felons and juvenile delinquents (Schmalleger, 2016). Once the individual has become labeled, they consciously or subconsciously fulfill the roll they were given. Compounding the individual’s obstacles are the legal tags they also become associated with. The effects of tagging an individual begin at the local community level and can be seen throughout the criminal justice system (Schmalleger, 2016). In example, assume a young male is arrested

Label theorist argues upon release from prison inmates are stigmatize as criminal which reduces their ability to live a normal life. According to Ascenio and Burke (2011), “Once a deviant label is applied, it perpetuates itself by eliciting reactions from others such as law enforcement, employers, family members, friend and other acquaintances” pp. 164. Label theorist suggests once labels are attached it can overshadow other positive characteristics. Upon release offenders often view themselves as others see them (looking glass self), especially repeat offenders. Criminal offenders often have difficulty finding housing that accepts criminal backgrounds, employment and funding to back to schooling because of the criminal labels. The problem

Labelling theory refers to the ability to attach a label to a person or group of people and in so doing the label becomes more important than the individual. The label becomes the dominant form of identify and takes on ‘Master Status’ (Becker 1963; Lemert 1967) so that the person can no longer be seen other than through the lens of the label. Words, just like labels, are containers of meaning. In this case, the label and the meaning attached to it becomes all that the person is rather than a temporary feature of something that they have done or a way that they have behaved.

Many laws are enacted to punish criminals and protect individuals from violent deviant actions. Privileged Deviance is economically costly because some powerful individuals attempt to escape the consequences of deviant actions. Deviance occurs through interactions between individuals and groups. The labeling theory discusses the social behavior of how and why individuals continue deviant activity to maintain their identity or label. Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz state “the word interaction deviance is a human activity involving more than one person’s act” (Thio, et. al, 2013, p. 35). The theory suggests individuals reflect on their behavior and how others view their actions. The labeling theory can be linked to the symbolic interaction foundation perspective. Understanding deviance and criminal behavior are addressed through the labeling theory. Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz suggest that the deviant act begins with the hypothesis that no act is essentially criminal. Criminality is recognized by individuals who feel powerful through the design of laws and the interpretation of law enforcement. Deviance is determined by the interaction between deviant and nondeviant actions and how the community interprets the actions. Individuals who adhere to the law and promote acceptable behaviors are the main source of labeling. For example; this may include police officers, courts, or school authorities. Defining specific

Howard Becker (1963) was the main theorist that constructed the modern labelling theory in the context of deviance. In his research, Becker (1963) finds that when individuals or a particular group’s actions or characteristics have been labelled as ‘deviant’ by the wider society, it brands this individual or group for life. The effect of this label is so powerful that Becker’s research discovered that individuals and groups that have been branded as deviant begin to be associated with the word ‘deviant’. As a result all other characteristics and roles this individual or group plays in society such as mother, father or priest etc. all become dwarfed by this ‘deviant’ label. Therefore it becomes so severe in some cases that the ‘deviant’ label becomes their sole identity (Becker 1963).

At its core, deviance is a label. Deviance, the breaking of social norms, is by definition socially constructed. Social norms exist only if society as a whole agrees to behave as if they do; as a corollary, deviance exists only if these norms are believed firmly enough to punish a breach. As shown in “Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia: The Development of Deviant Identities,” “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” and “The Labeling Hype: Coming of Age in the Era of Mass Incarceration,” the labels assigned to those who exhibit deviant behavior only reinforce deviance, leading to the development of a master status around the deviant behavior.