ipl-logo

Labelling Theory Essay

808 Words4 Pages

What is seen as deviant and criminal behaviour has been redefined numerous times throughout history. Some sociologists argue that deviance has been around since before the time of Christianity, madness (Deviance) was seen as a sign of demonic/supernatural possession. Similarly, with the Ancient Greeks who also saw deviance as a sign of something demonic or angelic. Furthermore, with the rise of prominent theorists/sociologists such as Émile Durkheim and Edwin Lemert, sociologists have established many theories when looking at deviance, such as labelling theory. Labelling theory is the tradition that ‘seeks to understand behaviour through one’s interactions’ (Chicago School). This essay will critically assess the importance of labelling theory …show more content…

However, labelling theory like any other perspective has its flaws. Critics have argued that this theory ignores factors such as family upbringing, peer relationships and location of individuals’ early life, hence this theory does not identify the root cause of crime (Davis 1972). Nonetheless Becker (1963) rebukes this analysis arguing that labelling is seen as a perspective, a glance at human undertaking, and thus details the steps of social control. In Becker’s later work, he added that deviants, despite the labelling, is not the main clarification of what these individuals (youths in particular) actually participate in Becker (1973). As with Davis’ critique, Braithwaite (2002) states that some individuals already have established negative labels from institutes such as the home and a school, henceforth the labelling process is to blame rather than the criminal justice system itself.
In conclusion, labelling theory or symbolic interactionism is important to the criminal justice system because it allows officials to examine how society perceives offenders once labels have been administered. Despite its many critiques, disadvantages and consequences; this theory in some cases can prevent youths from committing future crimes as well as diverting them from the criminal justice system to ensure law abiding

Show More
Related
1501 Words | 7 Pages

In F. T. Cullen, J. P. Wright & K. R. Blevins (Eds.), Taking stock: The status of criminological theory, advances in criminological theory (Vol. 15, pp. 251–273). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction. Kramer, R. C. (1985). Defining the concept of crime: A humanistic perspective. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 12(September), 469–487.

Read More
1325 Words | 6 Pages

The labeling effect is very important because it is determines people’s way to deal and understand things. The people who live outside of the so-called “poor/crime zoon” are hard to understand the people who live inside of these zoon, that is because the other function of the labeling effect, to create gaps between people from different social groups. When people who labelled by the same environment live together, they can create their own rules which are suitable for the corresponding environment. Most of people will qualitative some behaviors as criminal behaviors however, for the people who come from the “crime zoon” these

Read More
1417 Words | 6 Pages

Between the mid-late 1970s and the early 1980s, Dennis Nilsen began mass murdering young men in Great Britain that had at least 15 men through strangulation (Crime Investigation, 2014). In analyzing his life, many of contributions throughout his life could have influenced his criminal behaviour when committing his crimes. Many theories such as broken home hypothesis and schema therapy theory use psychological explanations that determine how the individual resulted into committing their crimes. With schema therapy theory, not only does it discuss the justification for criminal behaviour, but suggests how to reduce the relapse of criminal acts by identifying the cause or the trigger of the individual’s criminal behaviour (Vos et al., 2016). In Dennis Nilsen’s life, there are several indications such as the abandonment of his family members, the termination of a past relationship, and the reclusiveness from society that could have resulted

Read More
1185 Words | 5 Pages

The social learning theory for instance shows Manson leant deviance in his early childhood from his mother, who was incarcerated when he was five. This implicates the environmental control and that of close persons. It depicts that behavior modification can be achieved through enhancing the social environment for criminals. The social conflict theory explains that individuals engage in crime when the legal system, which is under the control of the wealthy, identifies their acts as being unlawful (Lionell & Rawlins, 2005) Labeling theory

Read More
1592 Words | 7 Pages

Convicted Felons and the Labeling Theory Paige Leary November 30, 2015 Criminology Delinquent, criminal, felon, all are labels that society give people who have been convicted of crime and therefore believed to have no respect for the law. Once an individual has been associated as someone who has no respect for the law they are often ostracized from their social groups. When a criminal has been denied by their friend groups they often begin to associate with people who are “like” them meaning that they are now associated with people who also engage in deviant behavior (Forensic Psych). All of the delinquent behavior that occurs after they have been ostracized from their original social group has been often the cause of them being

Read More
870 Words | 4 Pages

The labelling theory, also known as the social reaction theory, claims that people begin to self-identify as specific labels given to them by representative members of society (Siegel, Brown, & Hoffman, 2013). The correlation between teenagers and criminal labels will be further researched in this study. Bernburg, Krohn, and Rivera (2006) support this perspective on youth crime claiming that “official, or formal, adjudication for an offense may create or enhance the reputation of a juvenile as a criminal in his or her community” (p. 69). This can lead to prejudicial labels on innocent teenagers resulting in a vicious cycle. The widespread branding of adolescents created by the labeling theory is significant proof of

Read More
1802 Words | 8 Pages

Developmental theories look at how offenders start and end their criminal behaviors. All developmental theories, including the two focused on in this paper, pull from social, psychological, and biological factors to find answers. Both of these theories follow along a trajectory or pathway for offenders. Sampson and Laub’s age-graded theory has offenders following along two possible trajectories. They can either follow along the high risk trajectory or the low risk trajectory.

Read More
1457 Words | 6 Pages

It does not consider other factors such as criminal associations, individual traits, and inner strains, which plays a significant role in determining punishment for the individuals in committing crimes. It is observed that this theory endeavours to know that whether the activities of crime as well as the victim’s choice, criminals commit the activities on start from rational decisions. The theory also determines that criminals consider different elements before committing crime. They engage in the exchange of ideas before reaching on any final decision. These elements consist of consequences of their crimes, which include revealing their families to problems or death, chances of being arrested, and others elements, which comprises of placement of surveillance systems (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010; Lichbach,

Read More
863 Words | 4 Pages

When looking at both these theories a certain similarity sticks out. Both the labeling theory and the social learning theory strive to give information on why deviant acts are committed by certain juveniles. They both also explain what the causes are of people and juveniles being labeled as criminals and how this can cause them to perform the same deviant acts. In conclusion, both the labeling theory along with the social learning theory can be used to provide an explanation for not only juveniles but all deviant behavior done by a person or

Read More
1550 Words | 7 Pages

It has been observed that there are numerous researches conducted on youth crime particularly in the United Kingdom which gave the emphasis on young individuals as offenders instead of victims of crime. Moreover, radical criminology significantly contributed to understand the youth crime through different theories. According to Yar (2012), radical criminology is known as the conflict philosophy. It centres its perceptions on crime and on regulation in the faith that capitalist civilisations precipitate as well as describe crime as the possessors by sense of production utilise their influence to endorse commandments that would regulate the working class and suppress intimidations to the supremacy of the governing class. Radical criminology draws together the studies of interactionism, labelling, Marxism, critical criminology and gender which provide the understanding of youth crime from different perspective as discussed in the paper.

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

Deviance has many functions in society. Although deviance violates social norms, without it, we would not have rules, so it helps form, guide, and shape society’s norms and goals. Social norms are different from culture to culture. Norms that may be acceptable in one culture may be frowned upon in another. Emile Durkheim quotes that “deviance and deviant behavior is an integral part of all healthy societies (Adler, 2014, p74).”

Read More
637 Words | 3 Pages

Deviance and crime is a common characteristic of Canadian society. Deviance is defined as: “recognized violation of cultural norms” (2013, pg.465). While crime is defined as: “recognized violation of society’s formally enacted criminal law” (2013, pg.464). There are some universal similarities about what we as humans consider morally deviant, still, what is regarded as deviant or criminal behavior in Canada may not resonate with other societies. Some behavior “can fall right in between deviant and criminal” (Healy, 2012).

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

Deviant behavior is the behavior that is different from the most powerful norms of the society or can also be defined as odd or unacceptable behavior. In sociological way deviance is simply any violation of societal norms. There are many reasons why a person has deviant behavior which includes biological , psychological and sociological explanations. the most popular sociological theories are Structural Strain Theory which was developed by Robert K merton as an addition of the functional point of view on deviance. The theory discovers the origin of deviance that these are caused by the difference

Read More
2091 Words | 9 Pages

The theory views the offender as either a patient or a victim or both. According to this theory a person who has committed an offense is not morally responsible for the offense he or she has committed because the offense might be the product of an illness in which treatment is required; this type of person is regarded as a patient. When the offense is the product of a dysfunctional social environment the person is regarded as the victim. The advantage of this approach is that it focuses on the offenders, instead of punishing the offenders this approach focuses on repairing and treating the dysfunctional areas that the offenders are experiencing by means of behavioral therapy and other therapeutic programmes.

Read More
1877 Words | 8 Pages

As far as crime is concerned, it is defined by the law. Deviance is unexpected behaviour, but not exactly considered criminal. Many consider crime as a social problem – a problem as defined by society, such as homelessness, drug abuse, etc. Others would say crime is a sociological problem – something defined as a problem by sociologists and should be dealt with accordingly by sociologists. This essay attempts to discover the boundaries between these two and ultimately come to an appropriate conclusion.

Read More

More about Labelling Theory Essay

Related Topics

Open Document