...Labelling theory and its theorists focus on the groups and/or individuals who were deemed to be criminal and labelled thus by society. Labelling theorists studied the various interactions between the ‘criminal' groups and individuals and the conformist society. 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. 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. Tannenbaum (1938) is widely regarded as the first labelling theorist. His main concept was the ‘dramatization of evil'. He stated that if a person is described as being a criminal then he automatically becomes one. Erwin Lamert (1951) founded the “societal Reaction” theory. This theory is widely credited to be the forerunner of the present day labelling theory. His theory basically states that a person experiences social deviance in two phases. The first phase is known as the Primary deviance phase. The second is known as the Secondary deviance phase. According to Lemert, the primary deviance phase begins with a criminal act. He or she is then labelled criminal but has yet to accept the label. The main point of view is whether he or she has accepted the criminal label. If the person views themselves as a criminal then the secondary deviant phase has begun. The object of whether a person views himself or...
Words: 2626 - Pages: 11
.... Effects of labeling on prosecution and society Probation officers are involved in supervising offenders that have been placed on probation by the courts. First time offenders who have been convicted of a crime are placed on probation rather than being sentenced to a prison term. The role of a probation officer is to monitor the behaviours of offenders so that they cannot engage in any further criminal activity. This is done by setting up regular meetings with the offenders and their family members. They work with other agencies that are community based to try and help offenders with a range of services such as employment, housing, and so on. A young offender is a young person that has been convicted or cautioned for a criminal offence. The criminal justice system often deals with young offenders to adult offenders. The term young offender is applied to different age group depending on the age of criminal responsibility. In the United Kingdom there are three separate and distinct criminal justice systems; in England and Wales the age set for young offenders is 10 years and in Scotland the age for criminal responsibility is set at 12 (need citation). II. In a study conducted by Brookins and Hirsch (2002) entitled “Innocence Lost: Case Studies of Children in the Juvenile Justice System” the two talks about how the juvenile justice system is ineffective in working with young juveniles in helping them integrate with their families and communities based on reports. They pointed...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...Examine and asses the usefulness of a theory of crime and deviance in terms of explaining crime and or social problems in modern society. This essay is going to examine and asses the usefulness of labelling theory in our understanding of crime and social problems in modern society. This essay is going to firstly look at what labelling theory is and also look at the key writes that have influenced and help to develop the term labelling theory. The essay will then go on to look at empirical research that has been carried out such as Jock Young’s study of marijuana users and their experience of labelling which in turn led to further deviance and also different examples that will help illustrate the key points being put forward in the essay. Finally it will look at some of the criticisms labelling theorists face. This essay will draw information from academic books, websites and articles to illustrate and support the points of few being put forward in the essay. Interactionist generally sees society from the point of view of individuals. They believe that individuals are creative free thinking people who are able to choose their own behaviour and the also believe that behaviour is self-directed based on the interactions we have with one another. The labelling views on deviance is generally grounded in what is now known as labelling theory which emerged in the 1960’s from the work of American sociologist Howard Becker. Labelling theorists are mainly concerned with how and why certain...
Words: 1428 - Pages: 6
...Outline labelling theory and consider its usefulness in explaining crime and deviance. Labelling theory claims that deviance and conformity results not so much from what people do but from how others respond to those actions, it highlights social responses to crime and deviance. Macionis and Plummer, (2005) said deviant behaviour is therefore socially constructed. The labelling theory is used as a sociological theory of crime influential in challenging positivity criminology. The key people to this theory were Becker and Lement. The foundations of this view of deviance are said to have been first established by Lement, (1951) and were subsequently developed by Becker, (1963).As a matter of fact the labelling theory has subsequently become a dominant example in the explanation of deviance. The symbolic interaction perspective was extremely active in the early foundations of the labelling theory. The labelling theory is constituted by the assumption that deviant behaviour is to be seen not simply as the violation of a norm but as any behaviour which is successfully defined or labelled as deviant. Deviance is not the act itself but the response others give to that act which means deviance is in the eyes of the beholder. Actually the labelling theory was built on Becker, (1963:9) statement that "Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitute deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders----deviance is...
Words: 1321 - Pages: 6
...Labelling theory 1. Do you think young people hanging around are engaging in antisocial behaviour? – I think that not all young people engage in anti-social behaviour as not all have the intention of causing trouble when they ‘hang around’ 2. The article above states that people are terrified of the ‘gangs’. Do you think this is a reasonable reaction? Explain your answer. - The reaction towards gangs are partly justified as some gangs cause trouble and have an intention of causing problems however some groups of young people hang round for the sake of it not to intentionally cause trouble. * Is a way of how and why certain acts come to be labelled deviant * Argue not any act is inherently criminal or deviant itself, it only comes when people label it as such * It is not the nature of the act that makes it deviant, but nature of society’s reaction to it Becker (interactionist) someone who has been successfully labelled Moral entrepreneurs – people who lead a moral crusade to change the law in the belief that it will benefit those to whom it is applied. This effects society as it creates a new group of ‘outsiders’ – outlaws or deviants who break the new rule/the creation or expansion of a social control agency (such as the police) to enforce the rule and impose labels on offenders. Not everyone who commits a crime/offensive is labelled, this can be because of their interactions with agencies of social control such as police and courts or their appearance...
Words: 319 - Pages: 2
...January 2012 Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance. (21 marks) The Labelling theory plays a major role in explaining crime and deviance. It implies how actions become labelled as criminal or deviant in society and how its only deemed as such labels when society says it is. Since the early 1950s, one group of sociologists influenced by symbolic interactionism, questioned the approach that there is a difference from those who offend and those who do not, the sociologists argue that most people commit deviant and criminal acts, but only some people are caught and stigmatized for it, therefore it is pointless trying to search for the differences between deviants and non-deviants, instead, the stress should be on the reaction to and definition of deviance. “Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label” - Becker (1963). However, labelling theorists have also been criticized for presenting deviants as perfectly normal people and not acknowledging that there has to be a reason for the label to be placed on them. In 'The Outsiders', Becker gives a clear and simple illustration of the labelling argument, drawing up an anthropological study by Malinowski (1948/1982) of tradtional culture on a pacific Island, describing how a youth killed himself because he had been publicly accused of incest. On Malinowski's first inquiry about the case he saw the islanders digust on the situation however, on further...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...Labelling Theory Intro: * Most approaches – except Marxism – accept difference between those who offend and those who don’t * One group – influenced by symbolic interactionism – questioned this approach – mistaken in assumption that lawbreakers are different from law abiding * Most people commit deviant or criminal acts – only some caught and stigmatized for it * Unique theories – as argues pointless trying to search for differences between deviants and non-deviants – stress should be upon understanding the reaction to, and definition of, deviance rather than on the cause of the initial act Becker: * No act is criminal or deviant until it has been labelled such by others * Criminal act in itself isn’t important – social reaction to act is * Agrees CD socially constructed * Becker studies – being labelled as deviant can have important consequences for persons identity * If label successfully applied – negative label becomes master status – cancels out any other statuses that indiv. has * Can result in excluding indiv from different social activities e.g. work and other mainstream society – left to find support with others in similar situations * Likely to reinforce deviant lifestyle – leading to dev of further deviant acts and career * Could ultimately lead to the creation of deviant subcultures * However – criticisms – fails to explain why people commit crimes and completely neglects power and social structure – cant...
Words: 845 - Pages: 4
...schools, the family and religion are there to encourage you to conform. They argue that white collar crimes (which tend to be committed by the more powerful in society) are ignored, while crimes committed by the less powerful in society such as burglary and street crime are focussed on and seen as more serious. Marxists would also argue that different social classes are policed differently, with the working class heavily policed in the expectation that they will be more criminal and therefore raising the chances of their crimes being detected. Classical Marxists argue that this fundamental fact of exploitation provides the key to unlock the explanations for the workings of society. They believe there are 5 main elements that make up such a theory. In this essay I will be looking at the usefulness of the Marxist...
Words: 1599 - Pages: 7
...How does labelling theory affect crime and deviance in society? (21) In sociology's study of crime and deviance, basically all of the theorists, excluding notably the Marxist theory, suggest that there is a difference between those who offend and those who do not, and search for key factors that lead people to offend. However, there are a group of theorists who reject this idea and instead suggest that most people commit deviant and criminal acts, but only some people are caught and stigmatised for it and that stress should be placed upon understanding the reaction to and definition of deviance rather than on the causes of the initial act. Although the labelling theory is quite prominent in the study of crime and deviance, there are still criticisers who both give valid accounts to why this theory should or shouldn't be taken as a valid theory. Firstly, Becker, one of the exponents of the labelling theory, who states that "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. Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label." The study was of a traditional culture on a Pacific Island conducted by Malinowski which describes how a youth killed himself because he had been publically accused of incest. When first asked about incest, the islanders had retorted in disgust, but when pressed on the matter, it was revealed that many had committed acts of incest and that it was not...
Words: 725 - Pages: 3
...Evaluate the usefulness of labelling theory to our understanding of crime and deviance (40 marks) Synopticity – Crime & Deviance and Theory Labelling theorists such as Becker and Lemert argue that because of the diversity of different values in society, there can never be a universally agreed definition of what constitutes ‘normal’ or ‘deviant behaviour’. What is deviant for one person may not be deviant for another. Labelling theorists argue that social reactions means labels are attached to certain people. For example, studies of the media by Cohen, Young etc. indicate that media social reaction may result in groups such as gays being labelled folk devils (such as aids carriers etc.). Fundamental to labelling’s traditional belief is that negative social reaction, in the form of labelling, causes an actor to become one with the deviant activity placed upon him, and, in many cases, leads to development of further deviance. Theorists believe that the stigma people feel from this labelling propels them toward, instead of away from, future deviance. Lemert made a distinction between Primary deviance and Secondary Deviance that labelling truly acquire prominence. Primary Deviance refers to an individual committing any norm-violating behaviour, usually without personal or social consequences. Secondary Deviation is deviant behaviour generated when one is placed in a deviant social role as a result of negative social reactions – having been processed and labelled as deviant...
Words: 1311 - Pages: 6
...and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance’ (21 marks) Labelling theory is a micro approach that looks at how individuals construct society based on their interactions with each other (item). In terms of crime and deviance, labelling theory argues that most people commit deviant and criminal acts but only some are caught and stigmatised for it. So therefore, it is not useful to search for differences between ‘deviants’ and ‘non-deviants’ in society. Labelling theorists believe focus on crime should be understanding the reaction to and definition of deviance rather than the causes of the initial act. One labelling theorist, Becker, suggests the idea of crime as a social construct. He argues that an act only becomes deviant when it is defined as such by others, and that a criminal will only be labelled depending on society’s reaction to the crime. Becker argues that those people that have the power to create and impose their definitions on the rest of society such as the police are called moral entrepreneurs, reinforcing that crime and deviance is a construction of society. In addition to this, Becker argues that there is selective decisions as to whether to or how to deal with illegal or deviant behaviour. He calls this ‘selective law enforcement’ and suggests that police act on their own stereotypes and pre-conceptions on how to respond to the deviance and crime they come across. Labelling theorists are interested in who gets labelled...
Words: 986 - Pages: 4
...Using material from Item A and elsewhere assess the usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance. (21 marks) Labelling theory is a micro theory that explains how self-identity and behaviour of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe them. As Item A states, it is a micro approach that examines how individuals construct society. Labelling theory is useful in explaining crime and deviance through the way in which Lemert distinguishes between primary and secondary deviance. However, the usefulness of labelling theory can be criticised as they fail to explain why individuals commit primary deviance. The usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance will be explored. Labelling theory is useful in explaining crime and deviance as it distinguishes between primary and secondary deviance. Lemert (1972) makes this distinction, he argues primary deviance is a deviant act that has not been publicly labelled and has little or no significance, whereas secondary deviance is an act that gets a negative social reaction and consequently incurs a label. This implies that, as Item A states, that an action is criminal only when society views it as criminal. This is useful in explaining crime and deviance as it indicates how deviant acts can escalate from primary to secondary deviance and when this occurs how an individual is labelled and excluded from society. This progression is illustrated in Jock Young’s study of hippies who...
Words: 1006 - Pages: 5
...Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the view that crime and deviance are the product of labelling theory (21 marks) The labelling theory is a micro interactionist approach, this is because it focuses on how individuals construct the social world through face-face interactions. It recognises the concept of the `procedural self' where ones identity is continuously constructed and recognised in interaction with significant others, this results in the individual's behaviour, including that related to crime and deviance. If a certain group of people have committed crime in the past they are more likely to be thought as to reoffend. Sociologists such as Cicourel investigated ‘typifications’ which are stereotypes of young offenders meaning the police focus their attentions on these ‘types’ of people. Through typifications the police concentrate on working class areas closely attaching a negative label to them. Once a label has been attached through self-fulfilling prophecy the offenders are more likely to feel victimised so may be obliged to offend again or on the other hand they may try to break the stereotype. Similarly people tend to victimised in society due to their race. Piliavin and Briar argue that police arrest youth based on physical characteristics alone. Evidence of this happening could be reflected by the trend in the 70% rise in the number of blacks and Asians being stopped and searched. Stopping and searching people can be used as a precaution and...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...because of the increasing rate of immigrants; this has lead to the amount of people declining in visiting churches. The Society now believes on being the Belonger not the believers. This can be proves as the recent statistics shows that only six per cent of the total population in the UK visits churches on Sunday. People actually visit church only in case of coronation or weddings. On the other hand, modernization has played a great role, in making the current society secular. Recently there has been an argument between the atheist and the theist nature of practitioner on the belief of God or the evolutionary theory established by Charles Darwin, which has also created a conflict between religious versus science. People nowadays believes more in the evolutionary theory because of the society being rationalized by the evolution such as computers and scientific theory which comes towards the conclusion of science being...
Words: 592 - Pages: 3
...Sociologists use the labelling theory in order to explain why crime and deviance occurs in society. This theory conveys the idea that a act is only criminal or deviant if the act is labelled accordingly, these labels are attached to individuals by those in society who are conformist, therefore they are defining what is deviant and non-deviant. Those who use this theory as an explanation therefore explain crime and deviance in the terms that it occurs as a result of labelling that has been placed on an individual for partaking in a certain activity that has previously been labelled as opposing the norms and values that are upheld in society by those who “conform”which as a result leads to a self fulfilling prophecy being fulfilled. Labelling theorist therefore reject other explanations for crime such as the Marxist approach that argue it is due to the subordinate position of the proletariate that is maintained by the bourgeoisie, or that crime is a result of the lack of opportunity in society for legitimate employment , as a result of rejecting these theories they argue that the labelling process has a direct impact and that crime is a product of the labelling theory. Becker argues that a individual or behaviour is only defined as deviant due to the label that has been attached to it, these labels are created by ‘moral entrepreneurs’ that then lead a moral crusade to get laws changed and apply the labels. He argues that the result of this leads to the creation of a new group...
Words: 1628 - Pages: 7
