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Labelling Theory Essay

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To begin looking through these lens, one should start with the labelling theory. This theory is probably the core or initial reaction to an individual turning deviant. It is a naturalistic approach, as it centers on the physical communication of what people perceive as right or wrong (Becker par 178). After an individual is negatively labelled, such as deviant, criminal or even evil, that person begins to act in ways not acted before. They begin to self-induce in the label and produce it through the expected actions. But who actually has this power to label and, as some would consider, control people’s identities? The answer would be moral entrepreneurs. These are individuals who are on the top of the social hierarchy or those of legal authority, …show more content…

Nations have set out a dream goal, that only few can obtain using the right means. The others try to fit in, through adjusting their means so the actions so that it can be seen as good or expected. This is called the conscious collective agreement (Becker par 182). The next step with social reaction, is the formation of stigma and social identity.
Once the label is given, a stigma is formed around the individual. A stigma is similar to that of a stereotype, but relates to the attributes that are extensively visible (“Stigma and Social Identity” par 3). In the article by Goffman, he explains that there are three types of stigma. The first is the abomination of the body. The second is the blemish of the individual character; and the last is tribal, that is race, nation or religion practiced by the individual (“Stigma and Social Identity par 4). It is with these stigmas does one believe that that is who they are. In other words, they internalize the stigma as part of their social identity (“Stigma and Social Identity par 7). It takes on the position of being their master status, which is a status that over-powers the other minor statuses. All this, as a result, affects the way these individuals interact with others in the community.

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