In most cases, the former offenders have been reformed and are ready to be productive members of the society. Bernburg, J. G. (2019). sketched so far and an examination of how the notion of "labelling theory" came into popular acceptance. The way that society reacts to the labelling of criminals is mostly assumed by the original researchers, and hardly investigated. [2], In addition to Becker's contributions to sociological theory, he has also written extensively on the practice of sociology. Labeling Theory in Criminology and Sociology - Criminology Web However, certain peers, as another study from Zhang (1994b) shows, are more likely to reject those labeled as deviant than others. Zhang, L., & Messner, S. F. (1994a). Similarly, though, the results of Palamara et al. Palamara, Cullen & Gersten (1986) found that juvenile delinquency was affected both directly and through other interactions by contact with the police, as well as mental health services. "American Popular Song," pp. Primary deviance The original act that causes one to be labeled a deviant. Becker sought to discover the consequences that the application of the label of deviant had on the individual labelled. He noted that specific behaviour is not in itself deviant or normal; rather, people define it as such by applying labels to it and defining it in a certain way. *You can also browse our support articles here >. Group process and gang delinquency: University of Chicago Press Chicago. The consequences of labeling on subsequent delinquency are dependent on the larger cultural context of where the delinquency happens. Race is also a factor. Falsely applying the label of criminal to a person leads to them being seen as morally reprehensible in themselves, even though, at that point, this is probably not true. . He argues that being "deviant" is not inherent in a person, but rather, it's built-in to society. The uneasy and ambiguous interactions between non-deviantly and defiantly-labeled people can lead normals and the stigmatized to arrange life to avoid them, (Goffman, 1963). Becker (1963) explains that some particular kind of deviance might face the attention of the society or authorities. In addition, Gove (1975) criticises labelling theory on the grounds that it is has difficulty explaining all the different types of deviant behaviour. The individual becomes stigmatized as a criminal and is likely to be considered untrustworthy by others. [10], In 2004, Un sociologue en libert: Lecture dHoward S. Becker by French sociologist Alain Pessin was released in France. Mental patient status, work, and income: An examination of the effects of a psychiatric label. African American children, for example, are more likely to be seen as rrule-breakers by their parents than their white peers (Matsueda, 1992). Labeling theory is also connected to other fields besides crime. The central feature of labeling theory is the self-fulfilling prophecy, in which the label corresponds to the label in terms of delinquent behavior. Howard Becker is hailed as the founder of modern labeling theory. (2006). [2] According to Becker, the principles of social research he describes in the book are based primarily on what he learned from his professors and colleagues at the University of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. From a theoretical perspective, Matsueda drew on the behavioral principles of George Herbert Mead, which states that ones perception of themselves is formed by their interactions with others. "K-12 Education: Discipline Disparities for Black Students, Boys, and Students with Disabilities." But in poor areas, similar conduct might be viewed as signs of juvenile delinquency. Social bonding theory, first developed by Travis Hirschi, asserts that people who have strong attachments to conventional society (for example, involvement, investment, and belief) are less likely to be deviant than those with weak bonds to conventional society (Chriss, 2007). An Overview of Labeling Theory Oxford: Martin Robertson. Conceptualizing stigma. Howard Becker's Labeling Theory explains social deviance based on societal reaction and subsequent labeling of an individual for infractions of the social rules established in a particular time or place which may or may not be applied fairly, justly, or with any consistency. Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label." Howard Becker - One of the main theorists within Interactionism. Becker notes that the social audience who make the rules as to what is deviance also applies it on certain individuals who become outsiders once this label is attributed to them. Becker has also debunked some of the myths about academic writing (Writing for Social Scientists, 1986) and continues to produce delightfully entertaining and informative work. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/howard-beckers-labelling-theory-essay/. Quick Reference. Gove, W. R. (1975). IvyPanda. Mesmaecker (2010) observes that it only takes one criminal offense for someone to be labelled a criminal. By studying the process through which people become deviant, Becker noted that social control agencies such as the police and courts are created to label people as outside the normal, law-abiding community. "An Overview of Labeling Theory." Howard Becker's (1963) idea is that deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or labels, that modify the individual's self-concept and change the way others respond to the labeled person. Becker, H. (1963). The labeling of convicted felons and its consequences for recidivism. Part of the assumption about the way policing and the law works is that punishing criminal behaviour has a deterrent effect. Itbegins with the assumption that no act is intrinsically criminal. He found that teachers tend to perceive students from middle-class backgrounds as closest to this ideal and working class students as further away - regardless of actual ability. Firstly, labeling theory research tended to use samples of individuals from biased sources, such as police records. Carter, M. J., & Fuller, C. (2016). Howard Beckers (1963) idea is that deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or labels, that modify the individuals self-concept and, The central feature of labeling theory is the. Ex-cons might end up back in prison because they have formed connections to other offenders; these ties raise the odds that they will be exposed to additional opportunities to commit crimes. (2003) The Long Arm of the Law: Effects of Labeling on Employment. These ideas are also linked to moral criticisms, that labelling theory excludes the moral aspects of crime choosing to commit a criminal act is a moral choice. This paper also addresses the development of labeling theory and the process an individual undergoes to become labeled as deviant. An Individual who engages in deviance might do this for various reasons that do not include his self-identity. However, when several other cities replicated this experiment, they found that arresting domestic violence perpetrators actually resulted in significant increases in domestic violence (Dunford, Huizinga, and Elliott, 1990). Becker began playing piano at an early age and by age 15 worked as a pianist in bars and strip joints and, later, with a campus band at Northwestern University. Labeling theory is associated with the work of Becker and is a reaction to sociological theories which examined only the characteristics of the deviants, rather than the agencies which controlled them. Short, J. F., & Strodtbeck, F. L. (1965). Primary deviancy refers to the situation where a person commits a criminal offence because of sociocultural and psychological circumstances. Goffman, E. (2018). Crime, punishment, and stake in conformity: Legal and informal control of domestic violence. Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1995). However, its core ideas can be traced back to the work of founding French sociologistEmile Durkheim. Worden, R. E., Shepard, R. L., & Mastrofski, S. D. (1996). On the other hand, not all who are labelled as deviant might be guilty of rule breaking. From this point of view, deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by other of rules and sanctions to an "offender." Becker suggests that a distinction be made between rule-breaking behaviour and deviance. Howard Becker's approach to the labeling of deviance, as described in Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. The Functions of the Social Bond. Labeling theory emerged as the dominant perspective in the study of deviance in the 1960s, though its origins can be traced to Durkheim. The theory also highlights the role that the criminal justice system has in increasing crime. Labelling theory. When developing this theory, Becker was engaged in a study that focused on marijuana use and its control and he analyzed how the political power worked to give marijuana use a deviant label. 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'. (PDF) LABELING THEORY - ResearchGate Becker, Howard S. 1963. 111): Chicago University of Chicago Press. After the initial instance in which a person is labelled as a criminal, Becker (1973) asserts that a number of things are naturally attendant. Regoli, R 2009, Delinquency in Society, Jones & Bartlett Learning, NY. "How we deal with the people we study: The Last Seminar revisited," pp. Journal of research in crime and delinquency, 43(1), 67-88. Deviant self-concept originates from the theory of symbolic interactionism. "[13] In the chapter, Becker responds to critics who argue that labeling theory fails to provide an etiological explanation of deviance or an explanation of how individuals come to commit deviant acts in the first place. Sch. core definition. 662665., doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303691. [2] According to Becker, his academic lineage is Georg Simmel, Robert E. Park, and Everett Hughes. It has been criticized for ignoring the capacity of the individual to resist labeling and assuming that it is an automatic process. 15 December. Police Brutality and Black Health: Setting the Agenda for Public Health Scholars.American Journal of Public Health, vol. We create outsiders. Merton, R. K. (1968) Social theory and social structure. (2006). Looking for a flexible role? This original research found that arresting suspected perpetrators of domestic violence had a deterrent effect. Becker's 1963 book Outsiders provided the foundations for labeling theory. IvyPanda, 15 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/howard-beckers-labelling-theory-essay/. 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 considering the effects that people have on each other. Matsueda, R. L. (1992). (2007). Plummer, K. (1979) Misunderstanding Labelling Perspectives. The social authorities such as police officers, teachers, judges, and religious teachers, give the label deviance on certain behaviour (Walklate 2007). Howard Becker - Oxford Reference Kavish, D. R., Mullins, C. W., & Soto, D. A. 2636 in David Downes, et al. His family and friends may severe ties with him and this isolation will be detrimental to the well being of the individual. [5], Becker currently resides in San Francisco, California. Labeling can encourage deviant behavior in three ways: a deviant self-concept, a process of social exclusion, and increased involvement in deviant groups. [6] According to Becker, he viewed music as his career and sociology as a hobby. Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Criminal justice and behavior, 21(4), 387-402. Becker wrote the book "Outsiders". From a student at the University of Chicago to one of the most well-respected sociology professors in the world, Howard Becker has made an enormous contribution to the symbolic interactionist tradition. The labeling perspective and delinquency: An elaboration of the theory and an assessment of the evidence. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 27, 90-105. [7], The Chicago School of Sociology focused heavily on qualitative data analysis and worked with the city of Chicago as a laboratory. Consistent with labeling theory, children whose parents see them as someone who gets into trouble or breaks rules and children who feel as if their friends, parents, and teachers see them as someone who gets into trouble or breaks rules tend to have higher levels of subsequent delinquency. [13], According to Becker, not all individuals who are labeled deviant must remain deviant, however once labeled deviant it becomes more likely an individual will take deviant paths. Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. "Howard Becker's Labelling Theory." Howard Becker's Labeling Theory Deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or labels, which modify the individual's self-concept and change the way others respond to the labeled person. Sherman, L. W., Berk, R. A. Labelling theory reconsidered 1 - ResearchGate Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. Howard Becker Criminology | A Theory Analysis - UK Essays However, the attitude and treatment they get from the society leads them to transform their identities to fit the deviant label (Slattery 2003). [5] In 1965, Becker became a professor of sociology at Northwestern University, where he taught until 1991. The deviant is one to whom that label has been successfully applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so label. This argument is supported by facts surrounding the US Juvenile Justice System. Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? ". One of the most groundbreaking sociology texts of the mid-20th century, Howard S. Becker's Outsiders is a thorough exploration of social deviance and how it can be addressed in an. If the society labels a certain act as deviant and then focuses on it, the perception that this crime is on the rise will follow. That is to say, that a label of deviance (such as being a criminal) can become one that overtakes ones entire identity. "Howard Becker's Labelling Theory." Here it was argued that there are no inherently deviant individuals or acts but rather that social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance. Howard Becker (1928 - ) "Labelling is the process by which others - usually those in powerful positions - come to impose an identity upon us" (O'Byrne, 2011). They point out that labelling theory makes many perhaps unwarranted assumptions. (2019, December 15). [5] Becker also holds honorary degrees from Universit de Paris VIII, Universit Pierre Mends-France, Grenoble, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and cole Normale Suprieure Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Lyon. [2] Becker's 1963 book Outsiders is credited as one of the first books on labeling theory and its application to studies of deviance. A Dictionary of Sociology , Subjects: Another variable is the nature of the person caught breaking the law. Mind, self and society (Vol. Judith, B & Tina, M 2003, Child and Adolescent, Social Work Journal, 20(2): 85-98. 220-254): Springer. Firstly, labeling can cause rejection from non-deviant peers. Labeling Theory - Criminology - Oxford Bibliographies [2] Becker is often called a symbolic interactionist or social constructionist, although he does not align himself with either method. [6] Even so, he went on to get both his MA and PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago[5] where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on Chicago school teachers. Official labeling, criminal embeddedness, and subsequent delinquency: A longitudinal test of labeling theory. See all related overviews in Oxford Reference The Sociology of Crime and Delinquency in Britain, vol 2. McGrath (2009) best articulates this by stating that people act in a manner that reinforces their label. (2021, February 16). Those in economically depressed areas places where perpetrators were less likely to be able to hold down a job had less to lose by the conventional social tie of work, and recidivism with higher. The idea of labeling theory flourished in American sociology during the 1960s, thanks in large part to sociologistHoward Becker. Howard Becker's Theory Of Labeling - 237 Words | Studymode Many children, for example, break windows, steal fruit from other peoples trees, climb into neighbors' yards, or skip school. 179-196): Springer. This led on to his labelling theory of deviance, presented in his most influential book, Outsiders (1963). Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism. [13] In the late 1960s, Becker wrote two additional articles on drug culture: "History, Culture and Subjective Experience: An Exploration of the Social Bases of DrugInduced Experiences" and "Ending Campus Drug Incidents". Huizinga, D., & Henry, K. L. (2008). Becker (1973) clearly lays out labelling theory in his book Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. [16], One of Becker's main contributions to the field was the idea of art as a product of collective action. Secondary deviance This approach to delinquency from the perspective of role-taking stems from Briar and Piliavin (1965), who found that boys who are uncommitted to conventional structures for action can be incited into delinquency by other boys. Labelling theory reconsidered 1 | 2 | Deviance an Link (1982) proposes two processes for social exclusion among those labeled as deviant: a rejection or devaluation of the deviant person by the community and authorities; and secondly, the labeled person can expect rejection and devaluation, leading to social withdrawal. [13] The second, "Marijuana Use and Social Control", describes how mechanisms of control serve to limit use of the drug and further label users as deviants. Labeling theory - Wikipedia Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. [16] Becker also references how the division of labor plays a role in the creation of artwork, in that the work of many individuals goes into the production of the tools and routines of the artist. Sociologist Howard Becker developed his theory of labeling (also known as social reaction theory) in the 1963 book Outsider: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Official labeling, criminal embeddedness, and subsequent delinquency: A longitudinal test of labeling theory. American Sociological Review, 609-627. Becker (1973) clearly lays out labelling theory in his book Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Link, B. http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/ Howard Becker's home page, containing some recent papers and providing the opportunity to communicate with him. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Becker (1973) argues that this assumption is often made by researchers in criminology looking for a root cause or at least some commonality in deviance and crime. United States Government Accountability Office, Mar. According to the labelling theory, being labelled has an effect on the sense of self. (1972), it is possible the boys were trying to protect their self-image which was why they didnt report any problems to researchers. This paper will explain in detail Howard Becker's Labelling Theory and its view of Crime and Criminality. Data indicates that the young offenders who went through the adult system left the correctional facilities with a higher propensity for committing crime due to the label that they acquired (Clausmeier 2007). This is normally dealt with by accepting the label with all its meaning and consequences attached. It reveals that the outsider status causes one to engage in anti-social activity since society already expects them to do so. Davies & Tanner (2003) splits it into the strain that concentrates on secondary deviance, the strain that focuses on social psychological effects and, finally, the strain that examines the effect of labelling on life chances. (Published in French as "Les drogues: que sont-elles?," pp. The outsiders. Howard Saul Becker (born 1928) is an American sociologist who teaches at Northwestern University. [8] Although no longer teaching full-time, Becker continues to write[9] and record music. Lemert, E. (1951) Social pathology: A systematic approach to the theory ofsociopathic behavior. (1986), which relied on the opinions of mothers and teachers, might simply reflect the effects that labelling has on labelling obviously a circular argument. New York: Halsted Press. [5], After receiving his doctorate at the University of Chicago, Becker worked for three years as an instructor in sociology and social sciences at the University of Chicago. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you (1984). If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. Labelling theory was developed by Howard Becker and is most associated with the sociology of deviance. Howard Becker and the Labeling Theory. You can use them for inspiration, an insight into a particular topic, a handy source of reference, or even just as a template of a certain type of paper. Due to this, the individual is more likely to engage in criminal activity either to make a living or as a way of lashing out at the society. [11] Also, in 2006, Becker edited and contributed to Art from Start to Finish, a compilation of sociological essays addressing the question of how an artists decides when a work is finished. . Other evidence, however, has supported the contentions of labelling theory. Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects. The effect of police and mentalhealth intervention on juvenile deviance: Specifying contingencies in the impact of formal reaction. In summary, symbolic interactionism is a theory in sociology that argues that society is created and maintained by face-to-face, repeated, meaningful interactions among individuals (Carter and Fuller, 2016). It is therefore possible for crime and criminality to be alleviated by reducing the instances of labelling and treating former offenders in a civil and social way. Criminology, 45(3), 547-581. Labeling Theory | History of Forensic Psychology - UMW Blogs This manifests both on the societal and individual level. (2019) 'Howard Becker's Labelling Theory'. In defence of labelling theory, and the criticisms that have been levelled at it, Becker (1973) ascribes a more limited role to its applicability. This lack of conventional tires can have a large impact on self-definition and lead to subsequent deviance (Bernburg, 2009). This is summed up by differential association theory (Sutherland and Cressey, 1992), which states that being able to associate and interact with deviant people more easily leads to the transference of deviant attitudes and behaviors between those in the group, leading to further deviance. Labelling theory, therefore, has a particular problem with paedophilia, for example, which is generally thought to result from abnormal psychology. eds., "The Lay Referral System: The Problem of Professional Power,", "A Dialogue on the Ideas of World and Field with Alain Pessin,". Journal of research in crime and delinquency, 33(3), 324-332. Labeling theory is one of the most important approaches to understanding deviant and criminal behavior. Crime and deviance over the life course: The salience of adult social bonds. Labeling theorists specify two types of categories when investigating the implications of labeling: formal and informal labels. American Sociological Review, 680-690. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice). Becker, H. S. (1973) Outsiders: studies in the sociology of deviance. This label might last for a lifetime with dire repercussions for the individual. Kaplan & Johnson (2001) assert that part of the explanation for the mixed empirical results may be methodological problems. Theoretically, there is limited linkage between the processes that occur at an everyday level and how these translate into the societal reaction. Criticisms of theoretical aspects are somewhat muddied by different understandings of what labelling theory constitutes. Outsiders | work by Becker | Britannica Mesmaecker (2010) declares that this approach will alleviate the alienation of the parties within the legal process and greatly reduce the feelings of injustice that the offenders feel. This finding which implies that formal labeling only increases deviance in specific situations is consistent with deterrence theory. Because of this categorization, the individual is at risk of being rejected by the social groups he once belonged to (Walklate 2007). [5] During his career at Northwestern, Becker also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Manchester and as a visiting scholar at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro. These labels are informal (Kavish, Mullins, and Soto, 2016). The example is drawn by Becker (1973) of the difference between a middle class person and someone from the lower classes evidence is cited to show that it is the middle class person who is more likely to avoid prosecution. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [2], After receiving his PhD at the age of 23, Becker studied marijuana use at the Institute for Juvenile Research. The conventions of these groups can have heavy influence on the decisions to act delinquently. [2] Becker believed that the field was underdeveloped and consisted mainly of thinly veiled value judgements of particular artists. Labelling Theory - Explained | Sociology | tutor2u Howard Becker's Labeling Theory Flashcards | Quizlet The paper has analyzed how labelling leads to an increase in crime since otherwise normal individuals form an identity that conforms to the label attached to them. [11], Although Becker does not claim to be a deviancy specialist, his work on the subject is often cited by sociologists and criminologists studying deviance. [5] These include a Guggenheim Fellowship in 19781979, the Charles Horton Cooley Award, awarded by the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction, in 1980, the Common Wealth Award in 1981, the Cooley/Mead Award in the Section on Social Psychology, awarded by the American Sociological Association in 1985, the George Herbert Mead Award given by the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction in 1987, and the Award for a Career of Distinguished Scholarship, American Sociological Association, 1998. Becker, Howard A study by McCarney (2002) found that the status of being an ex-criminal has a negative influence a persons future employability and causes a loss of social status. In Deviance & Liberty (pp. [13] In 1973, Becker rereleased Outsiders with a final chapter titled "Labeling Theory Reconsidered. [13] In the case of musicians, Becker examines the consequences of an individual choosing an occupation that is already located within a deviant group and how this in turn labels the actor choosing the career as deviant.
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