Labeling Theory: What It Is, History And Examples

The theory of labeling was born within the socio-criminological panorama of the sixties with the name labeling approachthat comes from labels in English or “tag”. This theory is based on the study of deviation not as a phenomenon of innate and undoubted objectivity, but as a process of interpreting certain behaviors that society, understood in this case as the predominant and majority group, has defined as “not normal.”

In this way, labeling theory asserts that social norms are only definable within a precise historical and cultural framework and that, therefore, what is defined and perceived as deviant in a given place today is not necessarily what is defined and perceived as deviant. has been in the past or is in other places. Let us think, for example, of a duel match, a phenomenon that today is considered illicit both socially and legally, but which in the past was perfectly accepted behavior.

The theory of labeling in criminals

The criminal, therefore, is subject to a double assessment. On the one hand, a legal type defined by the law, and on the other, the social valuation that applies the criminal label to a subject.

This label has great power, since it not only defines the subject, but also generates the projection of expectations about what the subject is and their behavior.

According to the labeling theory, through the attribution of the criminal label to the author or alleged perpetrator of a crime, a process capable of transforming him into a chronic offender would be triggered. This process could be affected by both the consequences of mistrust, lack of self-esteem and stigmatization of the community, as well as the isolation and social exclusion that penitentiary institutions cause.

Therefore, labeling can have harmful consequences both in social representation and self-perception as well as in opportunities and frequentations. This process, especially in the case of weak subjects, can start an extensive criminal career which can cause the first crime to progress to even more serious forms of deviation, as well as hostility or a detachment from the social body.

For this reason, the criminal career has been analyzed by many scholars, such as sociologist Howard S. Becker in his work “The Outsiders.”

Victims of labeling theory

According to the labeling theory, people who have committed any of the following would be victims of this phenomenon. crimes that raise “social alarm” and who do not have material means or a consolidated reputation or status capable of counteracting the label of criminal. Likewise, the definition of the behaviors to be stigmatized (crimes, or even non-criminal acts such as drug use), would be influenced by the power to influence public opinion and the laws of the richest strata.

Consequently, the social reaction will not be activated in the same way for all types of crimes and will be more severe and detrimental to the community. delinquency and crimes associated with minorities, poor people, suspected repeat offenders or those that have a certain appearance.

On the contrary, the protagonists of other criminal behaviors, such as “white collar” crimes, would not suffer the same process of social condemnation thanks to the tolerance granted for crimes typical of a higher social class, normally with a better status and means to find strategies capable of giving them a face lift.

According to labeling theory, a behavior is defined as deviant when it is labeled as such by those who have sufficient power to support and reinforce this definition. Therefore, deviance is the result of how others interpret a behavior, so individuals labeled as deviant often internalize this judgment and it ends up becoming part of their identity.

Next, we show you the types of deviation according to labeling theory:

Stigma

Stigma is the feeling of shame associated with a behavior or a social status considered unacceptable or reprehensible by society.

Social stigma works when labeling, separation, and discrimination are related to inequality in social, economic, or political power.

Secondary deviation

It responds directly not so much to a deviated motivation of the subject, but to the attitudes of disapproval and isolation that society puts into action towards the individual who has transgressed the norms. The reiteration of deviant behaviors, therefore, would be a defense mechanism and adaptation to the social reaction received.

In this case, labeling functions as a self-fulfilling prophecy, as mentioned in Thomas’ theorem.

If a restaurant was destroyed by a group of privileged college students under the influence, what would it look like? What if a group of working class children did the same? Would it be judged in the same way?

Other examples may come directly from our daily lives, such as the ability of some “popular” students to labeling others based on behaviors or physical traits calling them “losers” because they, within the school context, have the power.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Labeling theory: what it is, history and examples we recommend that you enter our Social Psychology category.