Essay On Labeling Theory

When people think of the word identity they might think of several factors of identity such as their name, race, sexuality, religion or other things that define the person that they are. The concepts of human identity have been created to not only label ourselves, but to also label the people around us so that we can have an improved sense of structure and order within our lives and society. Labeling people affects how those people are spoken to or interacted with in society. These labels confine individuals to act or think a certain way, which limits creativity. Labeling also affects whether a person is treated positively or negatively by other people. When people label one another, they put them in categories based on several things about

Labeling theory holds that individuals come to identify and act as per their labels. The major tenet of this theory is that the behavior and self-identity of individuals is affected by the way they are described by other people (Vold, Bernard, Snipes, & Gerould, 2016). According to this theory, the act of deviance is not implicit in a particular act, but is hedged on the inclination of the majority to ascribe labels to minorities in society who deviate from standard behavior. Labeling leads to dramatization of a particular act – which propagates the behavioral clash between the individual and the community. Through ascribing labels, the individuals acquire a negative self-image. The individuals accept themselves as labeled by the

Some sociologists believe that the cause of crime and deviance is labelling which is when a label is attached to a person or group of people due to their appearance, sex, ethnicity etc. Labelling theory argues that once this label has been attached it can create a self fulfilling prophecy, which is when the person begins to act according to the label and hence it comes true simply through being made. Labelling is similar to stereotyping but this is when a person assigns certain characteristics to a labelled group. An example to support this would be 9/11. Since this disaster people label Muslims as being terrorists

Gove argued that there are two consequences of labelling: creation of sigma, modification of self images. Stigma is the negative branding of an individual and refers to the public condemnation and exclusion of the criminal. The media tend to exaggerate the behaviour of such people, causing increased fear and moral panic in society, resulting in avoidance and constantly being treated with suspicion. Becker refers to a ‘master status’ where once a person is labelled all of their actions are interpreted in light of the label and only negative aspects of that individual’s behaviour are focussed on.

A label has the power to define the individual or group of individuals being identified. That power is equal to control (Koppelman, 2011). Both can have a positive or negative effect. Unfortunately, the labels used by the majority are meant to have a negative effect. In fact, the labels are meant to demean and hurt as much as possible. They are so negative that there seems to be the intent to drive the labeled individual and/or group away, so they are no longer present and able to interact with the majority.

The Labeling Theory is the view that labels people are given affect their own and others’ perception of them, thus channeling their behavior either into deviance or into conformity. Labels can be positive and/or negative, but I’ll focus on the negative aspects of labeling in high school. Everybody has a label in high school whether it is the “slut”, “pothead”, “freak” or the “jock”; it is one of the most apparent time periods in which individuals get labeled. Students have the mentality that whatever label is placed on them is going to be stuck with them forever, which then leads into a self-fulfilling prophecy. This, I feel, is a fear of being a “loser” that has been instilled throughout years by the principals, teachers, etc. An example

Once a person is labelled as a deviant, it is hard to remove that label. The Labeling Theory basically says that no behavior is deeply rooted on its own. It is society’s reaction to the behavior that makes the act deviant or not. Labeling is to give someone or something to a category and is usually given mistakenly. The people who usually doing the labeling have statues, numbers, power and authority. People with low status, power and authority are the ones that are being labeled.

Labeling theory supports that the shaming of an offender, if not done correctly and even then, there is still research being performed on reintegrative shaming, can have harmful and negative consequences. All offenders are different, and respond differently, therefore shame can be devastating to some, however it might not be as bad for others. Also, labeling theory shows that when an offender is labeled there is a lack of social bonds, or the socials bonds that were once established are now broken. As mentioned above, once a label is attached, labeling theory does in fact suggest that offenders may drift towards a network of people who fit their criminogenic characteristics better than others who used to be a part of their lives (Hayes, 2000).

The Labelling Approach is a theory in which an individual’s identity is determined or influenced by the terms that is used to describe or classify them, through the use of serotyping someone. This is seen within The Dark Knight when the Joker recruits those who have been labelled as mentally insane, or have been outcast by society. This makes them believe that have a sense of being within society as they start to create their own society, and those who do not follow the norms that the Joker puts into place. Through allowing the joker to recruit those who have a negative label, do to the Joker having a label himself of being a villain by both sides of society. Not being accepted by anyone, even his own, which forces him to act on such a label through committing crimes that are not even the norms of the criminal society. This behavior is being seen as a rationale by both sides of society the general public, and criminals by not allowing the Joker and his associates fit within the norms that are being set for them. This also helps society within Gotham to make sure that those with a label are not socially accepted such as those that have a mental illness, and who perform criminal acts. However, at the same time it gives the people of Gotham as a sense of power over those that have a label, and the sense that they have a position over society.

The labeling theory is based off of interactions between individuals and society. It suggests that the negative labels given to individuals by society can cause the individual to become that label.

In Crips and the Bloods we see multiple examples of labels continuing crime. First off, most of the children born in this area are black and poor. Already they are labeled and stereotyped as being dangerous to communities, useless to society, and destined for failure. One man says “I grew up in the hood, I was born in the hood, I was raised in the hood, and I’m going to die in the hood. I didn’t choose my destiny, my destination chose me” (Peralta, 2008). This phrase demonstrates the power of a label. He was born into a community of violence and gangs and there is no way for him to escape it. Because he was born into this particular setting, this man now considers himself a person from “the hood,” he behaves in ways that are congruent with society’s idea of what some from the “hood” would behave like. In order to uphold his label, the viewer notices that this man dresses and speaks in a manner that is consistent with the “hood” label. Of course these things are not criminal, but this example demonstrates the unescapable power of a label.

Another example of everyday imposition of positive (rather than negative) labels, that I have noticed, just recently, is with my daughter. She is both gifted with intelligence and beauty, she is always working out and is very heath conscience. People use the labels; she is healthy, smart, educated. She graduated high school a year early, so due to her age, she doesn’t fit into college life and doesn’t fit back into her high school friends either. Due to those labels many people will not approach her, so its hard for her to make friends, so positives labels, create an everyday imposition for her in that aspect.

Labelling theory explains that young people that are labelled deviant will conform to such a label (Young, 1971). Labelling theory (Young, 1971) suggests that when a factor of a subculture is criminalised, those who identify with the subculture will identify with these deviant factors also. This was seen in the hippy subculture where cannabis became part of the culture's identity by the use of labelling through media messaging (Becker, 1963). In more current research labelling theory can be looked at from the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Link et al (2001) states that a rejection of a group of people directly affects the behaviour of that group confirming their 'outsider' status.

It becomes difficult to normally interact with others once there is a negative impact of an individual’s reputation and the conception and expectations of others reinforces that reputation. I am very familiar with the effect that labeling can have on a person. My uncle in Cuba is a great example of what labeling can do to your persona. I grew up very close to him and remember always going on trips and he would play around with all the time; to me he was the greatest uncle in the world. One day I heard a comment that slipped out of the mouth of some friends and they referred to my uncle as a “thief” or “ratero”. It appeared that my uncle due to the need of food decided to “borrow” a chicken from a neighbor’s backyard; got caught and from there he obtained a new reputation. I

Labeling theory helps us understand the social responses and reactions from the community, and as illustrated in the opening comments, the Mercer brothers’ history of criminal behavior and activities. Labeling theory is an approach of explaining that the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used when societies describe or classify individuals without further