Becker 1963 in which he pursued insights developed by earlier theorists like tannenbaum 1938 and lemert 1951, and argued that acts are not naturally good or bad. Labeling theory and personal construct theory northwestern. Howard becker developed labelling theory which is key within symbolic interactionism. In art worlds 1982, a book that greatly influenced. Labeling theory emphasizes that formal labeling, police and criminal justice. Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label. Labeling theory article about labeling theory by the free. Following a consideration of the works of tannenbaum 1938, lemert 1951, becker 1963, turk 1969, and quinney 1970, schrag identifies what he considers the basic assumptions that distinguish. A compulsively readable and thoroughly researched exploration of social deviance and the application of what is known as labeling theory to the. Labelling theory critical theories of antisemitism network. Charles cooleys human nature and the social order 1902 examines the personal perception of oneself through studies of children and their imaginary friends. Labeling theory is ascribing a behavior as deviant by society.
Labeling theory was created by howard becker in 1963. The labelling theory suggests that most people commit deviant and criminal acts but only come are caught and stigmatised for it. Pdf labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins. Becker earned bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in sociology from the university of chicago, studying with those considered a part of the chicago school of sociology, including everett c. Labelling perspective is regarded as one of the main theories developed by the interactionists, with howard becker being instrumental in its formation giddens and sutton, 20. Scientists do not ordinarily question the label deviant. Other theories of deviance attempt to explain the incidence or prevalence of concretely real acts with concretely real consequences robbery. Howard becker 1963 developed his theory of labeling, also known as social reaction theory, in the 1963 book outsiders. The main theorist within labelling theory howard becker illustrates how crime is the product of social interactions by using the example of a. Jun 30, 2008 one of the most groundbreaking sociology texts of the mid20th century, howard s. He was the first to suggest that deviant labeling satisfies that function and satisfies societys need to control the behavior. Marxists argue that labels are not merely the result of teachers.
It represented a major turning point in the sociology of deviance. Beckers labeling theory tannenbaum, lemert, and kitsuse had discussed important concepts in labeling and stigmatization, but the labeling approach was more systematically refined with the. The first section provides an explication of beckers statement within the broader context of. Labelling theory is a result of the work of howard becker. By combining this dimension with anotherwhether or not an act conforms to a. Becker, labeling theory reconsidered in the outsiders 2d ed. Popularity labeling theory was popular in the 1960s and early 1970s. Although there had been prior research into deviant labels, howard becker is hailed as the found of the modern labelling theory. Outsiders quotes showing 11 of 1 all social groups groups make rules and attempt, at some times and under some circumstances, to enforce them. Labeling theory takes the view that people become criminals when labeled as such and when they accept the label as. Howard saul beckers book outsiders was extremely influential in the development of this theory and its rise to popularity.
A pioneer of labeling theory, becker 1963 stated that deviant behaviour does not exist until it is defined as such by members of society. Erikson 1962 had also used an approach called the social reaction approach or the social interaction approach as different from the structural approach used by merton, or the cultural approach used by cohen and cloward and ohlin. It has been accepted for inclusion in masters theses 1911. Social constructionism, social stigma, deinstitutionalisation, george herbert mead, howard s. Beckers most famous book, outsiders 1963, viewed deviance as the cultural product of interactions between people whose occupations involved either committing crimes or catching criminals. The application of a label often negative from one societal group to another results in the creation of an other. Howard becker 1 963 proposed that deviance was created by nile enforcers. American sociologist george herbert meads theory framing social construction of the self as a process involving interactions with others also influenced its development. However, its core ideas can be traced back to the work of founding french sociologist emile durkheim. Labelling theory is the sociological hypothesis that describing an individual in terms of behavioural characteristics. This theory focuses on the reaction to the behavior by society. He found that crime is not so much a violation of a penal code as it is an act that outrages society. Beckers 1963 book outsiders provided the foundations for labeling theory. Becker is often called a symbolic interactionist or.
Meaning acts only become deviant when observers perceive it and define it as deviant. Describing an individual as deviant and then treating them as such may result in mental disorder or delinquency also called societal reaction theory and the sociological hypothesis assessment labeling theory. Thus if a student is labelled a success, they will succeed, if they are labelled a failure, the will fail. The theory assumes that although deviant behavior can initially stem from various causes and conditions, once individuals have been labeled or defined as deviants, they often face new problems that stem from the reactions of self and others to negative stereotypes stigma that are attached to the deviant label becker, 1963. The theory and politics of criminalisation centre for. Self fulling prophecy theory argues that predictions made by teachers about the future success or failure of a student will tend to come true because that prediction has been made. Labeling theory proposes that it is not the actor alone, but the reactors, or. Tannenbaum,1938 defines labelling as the process of making the criminal by employing processes of tagging, defining,identifying,segregating,describing,emphasising,making conscious and.
Labelling theories contribution to the sociological understanding of crime and deviance becker is the main sociologist studying labelling theory on deviance, he argues that social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance. Labelling theory assumptions the present analysis of labelling theory is drawn from the recent discussion of this perspective by schrag 1971. From time to time ill add to whats here, as well as provide news on topics of interest to people who know me or are interested in what im up to. In sociology, labeling theory is the view of deviance according to which being labeled as a deviant leads a person to engage in deviant behavior. An overview of howard beckers labeling theory of 1963 kibin. Labelling theory underpins the role of society in defining behaviour. Labelling theory this theory argues that deviance is a social construction, as no act is deviant in itself in all situations. Originating in howard beckers work in the 1960s, labeling theory explains why peoples behavior clashes with social norms. My goal is to examine the grounds on which labelling theory calls itself critical. Social rules define situations and the kinds of behavior appropriate to them, specifying some actions as right and forbidding others as wrong. As such, behaviours become deviant when those that are conforming to the norms attach labels to those that are not conforming. In art worlds 1982, a book that greatly influenced the sociology of art.
Marxists also criticise labelling theory for ignoring the wider structures of power within which labelling takes place. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of deviance and by. Labelling theory tends to blame teachers for labelling pupils, but fails to explain why they do so. Beckers outsiders is a thorough exploration of social deviance and how it can be addressed in an understanding and helpful manner. Other theories of deviance attempt to explain the incidence or prevalence of concretely real acts with concretely real consequences robbery, adultery, murder, drug use, rape, and the like. Nov 27, 2018 labeling theory argues that, from a sociological perspective, what counts is this designation. He described that once offenders are labelled as criminals, it is very difficult to escape the stereotypes that come with being a criminal. One of the major factors that did influence the teachers was the way a child was dressed and how neat and tidy their work was. Becker served as president of the society for the study of social problems from 196566, and is a lifelong jazz pianist. Labeling theory article about labeling theory by the. Becker, in a later article, equates labelling theory with the dis covery of this. It is the interactional elements in explaining crime that had previously been ignored or minimised labelling theory was an attempt to highlight the fact that crime cannot be explained without.
Becker 1973 argues that labelling theory was not intended to explain why people commit crimes, but the focus of it is on the interactional elements. Labeling theory is a pretty simple theory that is based on social deviations which result in the labeling of the outsider. Labeling theory focuses on formal and informal applications of stigmatizing and deviant labels by society on some of its members. Labeling theory is closely related to interactionist and social.
Mar 22, 2019 becker served as president of the society for the study of social problems from 196566, and is a lifelong jazz pianist. Labeling theory is also connected to other fields besides crime. The theory claims that for a criminal to be successfully labeled, an audience must be present to provide a reaction to the crimes committed labeling theory concerns itself not with the normal roles that define our lives, but with those very special roles that society provides for. Labelling theory social class, poverty and attainment. A compulsively readable and thoroughly researched exploration of social deviance and the application of what is known as labeling theory to the studies of deviance. The idea of labeling theory flourished in american sociology during the 1960s, thanks in large part to sociologist howard becker. Howard becker 1928 labelling is the process by which others usually those in powerful positions come to impose an identity upon us obyrne, 2011. Labelling theory this paper critically examines howard beckers labeling theory 1963 view that social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance. Social groups create deviance through the establishment of social rules, the breaking of these rules results in the perpetrator being labeled as a deviant. Labeling theory implies a policy of nonintervention.
This theory was given by howard becker who tried to understand, not in the causes behind the deviant behavior but rather which behavior was considered deviant and. Becker argues that a deviant is someone who the label has been successfully applied. Becker also wrote extensively on sociological writing styles and methodologies. Howard becker theory of labelling social class and attainment. Labelling theory is the act of naming, the deployment of language to confer and fix the meanings of behaviour and symbolic internationalism and phenomenology. Labeling theory argues that, from a sociological perspective, what counts is this designation. For instance there is the labeling theory that corresponds to homosexuality. The first section provides an explication of becker s statement within the broader context of. Social rules define situations and the kinds of behavior appropriate to them, specifying some. Howard becker and edwin lemert have carried out studies of two different deviant. One of the most groundbreaking sociology texts of the mid20th century, howard s. The role of labeling in the stigmatization of mental illness. Labeling theory is a theory to understand deviance in the society, this theory is focused more on trying to understand how people react to behavior that happens around them and label it as deviant or nondeviant. Introduction, evaluation, and application newyork, oxford becker, h.
As howard becker 1963 puts it deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequences of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an offender. Studies in the sociology of deviance 1963, views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Labelling theory howard becker developed labelling theory which is key within symbolic interactionism. Labelling theories contribution to the sociological. Labeling theory takes the view that people become criminals when labeled as such and when they accept the label as a personal identity. Berkelman university of massachusetts amherst follow this and additional works at. Labelling theory this paper critically examines howard becker s labeling theory 1963 view that social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance.
Labeling theory is situated within the symbolic interactionist framework which suggests that one. It is for this reason that emphasis should be on understanding the reaction and definition of deviance rather than the causes of. The effects of labeling and stereotype threat on offender. Marxists argue that labels are not merely the result of teachers individual prejudice, but stem from the fact that teachers work ina system that reproduces class divisions. Howard saul becker born april 18, 1928 is an american sociologist who has made major contributions to the sociology of deviance, sociology of art, and sociology of music.
The labelling theory of crime is associated with interactionism the key ideas are that crime is socially constructed, agents of social control label the powerless as deviant and criminal based on stereotypical assumptions and this creates effects such as the selffulfilling prophecy, the criminal career and deviancy amplification. Howard saul becker s book outsiders was extremely influential in the development of this theory and its rise to popularity. Studies in the sociology of deviance new york, new. Primary and secondary deviance define at what point a person is. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for. For example, a teenager who lives in an urban area frequented by gangs. Erikson 1962 had also used an approach called the social reaction approach or the social interaction approach as different from the structural approach used by merton, or the cultural approach used by cohen and cloward. Although underscoring the salience of formal labeling, the. Howard becker 1971 did a study on labelling and interviewed 60 school teachers and through his findings found that they do label and judge pupils to how they fit the image of an ideal pupil.
Cooley develops the theoretical concept of the looking glass self, a type of imaginary sociability cooley 1902. He argued that society views certain actions as deviant. The labeling theory is based upon the idea that one is not considered deviant through their actions, but instead deviance is built upon from people negatively judging an individual with disparate behavioral tendencies from the cultural norm. Labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins can be traced to.
Obyrne 2011 suggests labelling is the process by which others usually those in more powerful positions come to impose an identity upon us. In 1966, labeling theory was first applied to the term mentally ill when thomas scheff published being mentally ill. Originating in howard becker s work in the 1960s, labeling theory explains why peoples behavior clashes with social norms. Oct 07, 2011 labeling theory had its origins in suicide, a book by french sociologist mile durkheim. Nov 01, 2017 labelling theory and the self fulfilling prophecy. Nov 06, 2015 labeling theory is ascribing a behavior as deviant by society. The founder of labelling theory was howard becker he wrote a famous book called the outsiders social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders howard becker 1963 14. According to becker, we should study the actions of the individuals because deviance is simply rule breaking behavior that is labeled deviant by persons in positions of power. Labeling research deviant scholarworks at wmu western. Labeling theory is based on the notion that certain members in society have the ability to construct and apply attributes to other members of the same society becker, 1963. Before him, frank tennenbaum 1938, edwin lemert 1951, john kitsuse 1962 and k.
Howard becker theory of labelling social class and. Labeling theory was developed by sociologists during the 1960s. Oct 01, 20 the founder of labelling theory was howard becker he wrote a famous book called the outsiders social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders howard becker 1963 14. He argues that the labelling theory has a clear value position that is, it speaks up for the powerless and the underdog. Many have argued however, that these labels are often the result of the statuses of the individual, e. Scheff challenged common perceptions of mental illness by claiming that mental illness is evident as a result of societal influence.
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