Question

While you should not treat this as a question-answer exercise, and while it is not necessary for you to answer all of the following questions, a good term paper will fully address and elaborate on most of the questions, in order to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of this topic. What are the main tenets (propositions) of labeling theory? With what type of thinking (or what school of thought) is labeling theory associated? Do the above-referenced research studies offer empirical support for labeling theory, or do they disprove (refute) labeling theory? If you conclude that they offer support, then what is your rationale? If you conclude that they do not offer support, then what is your rationale? Try to analyze the evidence and provide a reasoned argument that supports a logical conclusion.

Thesis: This essay will present a brief overview of labeling theory, and will use research studies to support this rational, and explain how the behavior of an individual can be influenced by different terms from society, which can result in blocked opportunities for individuals.

My Problem: I was just wondering if my thesis has good flow and makes sense and if there are any corrections you could make to make it sound better. My thesis is supposed to be based on the criteria above. Which talks about 3 questions:

1. Provide a brief overview of labeling theory
2. Does the research offer empirical support for labeling theory
3. If it offers support what is your rational?

I feel like I have mentioned question 1 and 3 in my essay but did not mention question 2… I am having troubling adding that in my thesis. I was also wondering if the thesis is to long?

Thanks

Answer 1

LABELING THEORY:

It is defined as a way or theory where an individual label themselves based on the identity and behavioral influence that described them or classified.

a process of attaching a word describing something on someone.

example: a group of people from the country of Kerala, speaking in Malayalam are labelled as "Mallus"

This theory was created by Howard Becker in 1963. according to him, "Labeling theory takes the view that people become criminals when labeled as such and when they accept the label as a personal identity."

a) overview of labeling theory:

labeling theory is where a person decides to act upon based on what others call him/her.

example: people being called or labeled as addicts, psycho, criminals,delinquent. a deviant (secondary) who gets such strong reaction from other then the individual is shunned and excluded from a group . this theory is related or associated with crime. where the deviant labelled can be drawn towards poor conduct.

example: calling or labeling someone as an addict , can cause other people to treat the deviant as an addict. this negative impact can turn the deviant into a real addict and the individual acts upon accordingly.

origin of theory:

many sociologist from America like Howard Becker and George Herbert Mead, French sociologist Emile Durkheim.Scholars Frank Tannenbaum, Edwin Lemert, Albert Memmi, Erving Goffman, and David Matza played roles in the development and research of labeling theory as well.

LABELING :

It is one of the most important way to understand a criminal behavior and a deviant. no act is an essential crime or intrinsical criminal. the word criminal is laid upon by the people in higher power who describe the act of an individual , people who hold power to judge and punish like in court, police, or other law holding institutions or government rule and regulations. the governing officials lay and exercise their powers on the society. wealthy define deviance for poor, men for women, majorities for minorities, younger for older. in other words the society takes dominion over the weak or sub ordinates by experienced or dominant and older group.

example : young rich individuals often steal, fight or break window glass while playing , these as termed or labeled as normal kiddish behavior , if the same is done by poor individuals it is considered or labelled as crime, they are beaten or punished. this shows that class plays an important role in labeling. Even if labeled individuals did not commit any crime, they are forced to live with this forever live with the consequences of being formally labeled as wrongdoer.

CRITIQUES:

Mattson Croniger, Robert Glenn (1976) , gave a critique approach towards labeling that if an individual is labeled based on various behavioral characters it is also important to consider the differences that is caused in the society, socialization, opportunities, attitudes that lead to their act. labeling and increased contact with the criminal population contribute to recidivism.

B) EMPIRICAL SUPPORT:

example:

life - imprisonment of women:

women are imprisoned for various reason. the people who are passionate to work for an improvement in their society or for people who are helpless try to help them , but on the other hand group of media or news writers or law enforcement bodies try to show these imprisoned women as useless, criminals and as a bad impact on the society. people who are trying to improve the society look in for rehabilitation centers, counseling approach or religious approach to help these women become better and to live for the betterment. they look into to taking care of the women and help them, know the, assess them on various aspects. these women need education and counselling and various programs to help them survive. this is one where the women are labeled.

on the other hand, labeling is not what makes the individual change but the behavior and changes in the individual creates the label. "People commit acts that violate the law or social norms for reasons that have nothing to do with labels that others apply to them" by Akers & Sellers. 2009. the act of the individual is what turns into practice and eventually becomes a behavior on routine. here the person is not focused but the label is, whereas the person should be in focus and labelled accordingly.

"The labeling process is not arbitrary and unrelated to the behavior of those detected and labeled. Sometimes, errors are made, labels are falsely applied, and criteria extraneous to the deviant behavior are involved in tagging persons with labels" as said by Akers & Sellers. 2009.

Howard Becker wrote in his book, the outsiders. that deviance causes labeling.

Findings on the labeling theory is the reason for juveniles or adults commit crimes is very weak. labeling on the behavior is not the exact process to decide on the character of an individual.This theory does not hold enough proof. The assumption that labels define who individuals are, is incorrect. It is easy to label an individual on their behavioral patterns and watch them live up to the title. In this case, society does not get to decide or judge who people are. Society may deem a certain label to be distasteful, but it is up to the behavior of the individual. the behavioral practice or the mind set of an individual determines who they are. focusing on the do about's of people and helping them is a way but labeling them is not to turn them into or according to the label given . different people have different mindset, the act of label causes mo change but the change causes label.