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Labelling theory summary
Theoretical perspectives on deviance
Labelling theory summary
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Labelling theory summary
Theoretical perspectives on deviance
Labelling theory summary
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Recommended: Labelling theory summary
The labeling theory proposes deviance is socially constructed through reaction instead of action. In other words, according to this theory, no behavior is naturally deviant on its own. Instead, it's the reaction to the behavior that makes it deviant or not (Long-Crowell, 2003). Labeling theory helps to explain why a behavior is considered negatively deviant to some people, groups, and cultures but positively deviant to others. The sheriff deputies working for Manitowoc County at a very young age considered the entire Avery family as a bunch of no good trouble makers (Long-Crowell, 2003).
Luis Rodriguez’s deviance supports Differential Association Theory because he joined a gang, numerous amounts of rebellious acts, and committed crimes against people because of peer pressure or the people he associated himself with. The events that took place in his life can be explained by his association with different people. Always Running supports Differential Association Theory because Luis joined a gang because of the pressure and need to protect himself and his friends. Negative deviance isn’t a natural thing, depending on who you're associated with or influenced by then you'll learn the behavior you'll exhibit. Therefore, "criminal behavior is learned.."
Deviant acts take many different forms often depending on the person committing the act, the people who witness it, the setting of the act, and the circumstances surrounding it, among many other factors. There are many approaches that people in order to convince themselves that they are not deviant. In the same sense, there are many ways that criminals escape being labeled deviant by others. Chambliss (1972) follows two groups of high school boys, the Saints and the Roughnecks. Both groups are involved in very deviant acts, although the Saints tend to avoid most trouble and are not viewed poorly by the community while the Roughnecks are constantly in trouble and have developed a poor image of themselves within the community.
In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. The differential association theory is the most talked about of the learning theories of deviance. (DAT). (Sutherland) (Sociological Theories of Crime and Their Explanation on Crime , 2007) Theories of criminality are most commonly derived from human behavior.
Sutherland’s theory of Differential Association takes a macro level analysis as to why people commit crimes and brings it to a micro level analysis. He concludes that looking at a multiple factor approach did not explain why crimes are committed. Instead he asks the question what one singular factor touches on these multilevel factors. Sutherland looked for the universal explanation as to why crimes are committed rather than looking at individual reasons. His theory seeks what has always been present in crime and what has not or better yet what mechanism or experiences correlate to the crimes committed.
Deviant behavior is essentially anything that conflicts with the social norms that have been already established by a society. Examples of deviant behavior can range from parking in a handicapped spot when you are not handicapped to committing the act of murder. Most deviant behavior is considered to be routine and institutionalized. This type of deviant behavior we have been accustomed to and now have grown to not be as shocked when we hear about it. For instance, if you live in a bigger city such as Atlanta or Nashville, upon reading the newspaper or watching your local news station you may hear of another murder taking place and not even bat an eye.
Deviance is considered a vagrant form of human activity, moving outside the more orderly currents of social life” (Erikson, 2013). Labeling theory is a major factor in criminal behavior. This theory gives insight on what can make an individual attracted to criminal behavior, opposed to wise decisions and acceptable behaviors. Kurbin shares with his readers that “ In contrast, labeling theory adopts a “ relativist” definition, assuming that nothing about a given behavior automatically makes it deviant. In other words, deviance is not a property of behavior, but rather that result of how others regard that behavior” (Chris E. Kubrin,
Taylor McDowell RED ID: 817914104 CJ 303 12 September 2014 Assignment #1 Deviance is best known as “behaviour that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society” (Deviance and Social Control, 171). It is made up of three elements: “a perception that some behavior, appearance or belief is different, an assessment that the difference is significant, and a judgment that the difference is positive or negative” (CH 1&2 Lecture, Slide 4). In order for something to be deviant, it must differ from social norms. However, what is considered deviant to one culture, group, or society, may not be to another.
According to our book “Criminology,” Labeling theory deviance is not a quality of the act a person commits; some people and behaviors are more likely than others to be labeled deviant (173). Labeling theories are used in many studies the results contribute to the definition of labeling. When a person is considered deviant in certain situations such as a child stealing a gum from the store or a teenager smoking marijuana. This two types of behavior are deviant on high class societies. This leads to costly punishment and or jail time for the deviant individuals.
(Gangs) A deviant subculture is defined as a subculture, which has values and norms that differ substantially from the majority of people in society. When a neighborhood or community favors illegal activities, a criminal subculture is likely to develop such as gangs. Walter Miller states that deviant subcultures don’t arise from the inability of a community to achieve success, but because of a lower-class subculture whose values and norms are different from the rest of society. Subcultures can be a good thing, because they can provide a sense of belonging, interaction with people who have similar interests, and gives members the freedom to express individuality.
In criminology, differential association is a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. The differential association theory is the most talked about of the learning theories of deviance. (DAT). Theories of criminality are derived from distinct images of human behavior. I chose the movie American history X and the theory is Sutherland’s differential Association theory (DAT).
Deviance; we all take part in it, one way or another. Best defined as “the recognized violation of cultural norms,” (Macionis p. 212) tells of how we all contribute aberrant actions to society all the time, some with our entire lifestyles and way of being. It just means to say that we all veer from the righteous path at times, whether it be breaking a religious commandment, a legal law, or simply doing something ‘unusual’ such as being a white person with dreads. Being deviant is something that, whether it be surprising or not, has to do with society and how it’s organized. Of course, acts that are deviant in one state or country could be perceived as relatively normal in another, causing the definition of a criminal or outlier to vary.
The differential association is a theory that explains why criminals commit crimes based upon their relationship with other people. For example, when they have contact with other people who are criminals they learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. Edwin Sutherland has this 9 basic tenets of this differential association theory. Sutherland point of view is that (1) criminal behavior are behavior we learned over the time (2) We learned criminal behavior by having relationships with other people who are already criminals and the way they communicate is by words and signs.
The next article that will be discussed is about labeling theory and juvenile delinquency by Adams, Robertson, Gray-Ray, and Ray (2003). The purpose of this study is to examine juvenile delinquency using the theoretical examination of labeling theory. It examines labeling theory, by seeing how informal (parents, peers, and teachers) labeling and formal (social control agencies) labeling affect adolescents into committing delinquent acts. The researchers hypothesized that adolescents who chose negative labels as their self-image had a greater tendency to be involved in delinquency. This study also uses a quantitative research method to collect their data.
Differential Association Theory is a criminology theory that looks at the acts of the criminal as learned behaviors. Edwin H. Sutherland is accredited with the development of the Differential Association theory in 1939. Sutherland, a sociologist, and professor most of his life, developed Differential Association theory to explain how it was that criminals came to commit acts of deviant behavior. Under the differential association theory, there is no biological or genetic basis for criminal behavior. The learning of such behavior took place within a group already knowledgeable about and engaged in criminal behavior.