Labeling Theory

When society attaches labels to peopleEX. Labeling people as pot heads; they feel as if they need to fulfill their label

Frank Tannenbaum (dramatization of evil)Howard BeckerEdwin Lemert

* Primary deviance: committing a prohibited act * Secondary deviance: behavior produced by being placed in a deviant role (effect of reaction)

* Dramatization of evil: the deviant adjusts their behavior to a group and comes in conflict with society based on opposing ideas of what is deviant. (Joining a Gang)* Tagging: Self image and how it changes after you are labeled.

Self fulfilling prophecy: if you believe something is a certain way, it will become a reality (fuck it \, i'm a criminal)

Master status (Becker): Label of criminal overshadows any characteristic they have (mother in prison; see her as a prisoner, not a mother)

Deviance amplification: suggests that small deviance leads to a life of being seen as a deviant. ( fitting the label) (peers label girl as SLUT, so she embraces her label and starts sucking Dick)· Group level: both can lead to a deviant career, more visible and labeled as a deviant, legitimate opportunities maybe cut off.· Individual level: may internalize the deviant self image and engage in more deviance. Deviance wouldn’t have occurred if there was no label.

Obedient Behavior Rule-breaking behavior Perceived as deviant Falsely accused Pure deviant Not perceived as deviant Conforming Secret deviant

Retrospective interpretation: when people reinterpret their past to fit the label. Prior to being labeled these events didn’t mean anything. (Captain Hindsight)

Predominantly micro/processClassicalConflict

Juvenile diversion programs(Community service, alcohol class, etc)* Awareness and efforts to mitigate effects of labelling in interactions with offenders* research