Labeling theory
The labeling theory is one of the various social behavior theories that seek to explain the cause of deviant behaviors within the society. Here, the theorists tend to describe deviant behavior as behavior that which becomes deviant only when labeled so. This approach tends to explain why the labeling theorists are not much interested in what causes the primary deviation. They tend to shelve the question of what causes primary deviation and tend to assume that the infarction of norms is distributed fairly evenly throughout the different social groups but they take the line that for various reasons that authorities notice and label only certain individuals. The labelists assume that all are fundamentally alike, before the effects of labeling sets in. They tend to assume that no individually is innately motivated to act in a deviant manner and no one has some traits impelling him to do so. This approach is in sharp contrast with the traditional approaches and theories on deviance, which asserted that people develop specific behavioral trends s a consequence of influence exerted by ‘criminogenic’ factors.
By labeling, it is often inferred that the identity ascribed to an individual is in some way deliberately done so and altered to his discredit because of an alleged deviation. This sets in the concept of stigmatization, which describes the process of attaching visible signs of moral inferiority to a given person or people in the form of unpleasant marks, labels, brands, or publicly disseminated in formation. Hence, labeling starts or begins when an individual is alleged to have deviated in a particular manner. Here, there are two types of deviance, the ascribed deviance and the achieved deviance. The ascribed deviance shows up in the form of those not complying to the norms possessing a special physical or visible ‘inadequacy’. Such deviance is manifested independently...
References
Bernburg J.G., (2009). Labeling Theory. Retrieved September 30, 2018 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226795096_Labeling_Theory
DeRoche C., (2015). Labels in Education: The Role of Parents and Parental Cultural Capital in Acquiring Diagnoses and Educational Accommodations. Retrieved September 30, 2018 from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=2ahUKEwjb_Z2ZsOTdAhWlx4UKHUPiAzsQFjAHegQIChAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.sfu.ca%2Fcje%2Findex.php%2Fcje-rce%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F1870%2F1811&usg=AOvVaw3b_VVgVRHmUTXFWRl09WTE
Knutsson J., (1977). Labeling theory: A critical Examination. Retrieved September 30, 2018 from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/47664NCJRS.pdf
Scimecca J., (1977). Labeling Theory and Personal Construct Theory: Toward the Measurement of Individual Variation. Retrieved September 30, 2018 from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a3df/cc1e933604b2e4efdfc37912f942c6e535be.pdf
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