Essay On Labeling Theory

When a label gets applied publicly and with power it becomes a turning point for that individual making them play the role of the label (Labeling Theory, n.d.). As for the article, primary and secondary deviance can be determined by the amount of body art that an individual gets. For example, less than four tattoos are still seen as an act of deviance but are not extremely rebellious. The article shares “He found that while ‘a single dolphin or rose on one’s ankle is seemingly benign, and not especially rebellious,’” (M.Baklinski, 2010). The secondary deviance would be multiple tattoos, and this causes the individual to be labeled as deviant and can hinder them from receiving normal benefits that an individual without tattoos would receive. The text continues “those with ‘multiple tattoos, fully tattooed arm “sleeves,” or intimate piercings of the nipples or genitals’ were "positively related to an overall higher incidence of social deviance." (M.Baklinski, 2010). This quote shows the social construction of deviance being that society tends to make rules and if individuals break the rules then they are seen as being deviant (PowerPoint). When society applies the rules, tattoos

Tattoos have become a mainstream occurrence and individuals tend to get them to show their uniqueness and therefore labeling a person as being deviant simply for tattoos is not a good indicator that they will commit crime. The article shares “30 years ago," Professor Koch observed, "those who had tattoos were part of a subculture, but now it has become more mainstream, and so some people are pushing the envelope in the use of body art in order to be different" (M.Baklinski, 2010). The labeling theory would not be a good predictor of crime for that