Criminology is a discipline that, over time, has developed numerous theories to explain what factors produce behavior that deviates from what we know as normal. Some have involved mental illness or other statistical factors or personality characteristics, but what is labeling theory?
In this Psychology-Online article delving into the Labeling theory: what it is, history and some examples to help you better understand the topic.
What is labeling theory
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.
How labeling theory operates in psychology
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 and stigmatization of the community and 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 careerwhich 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 ), 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.
Types of deviation according to labeling theory
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
The is the feeling of shame that is 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.
Examples of labeling theory
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 traitscalling them “losers” because they, within the school context, have the power.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online 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.
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Bibliography
- Croteau, D., Hoynes, W., Antonelli, F., Rossi, E. (2022). General Sociology. Theory, method, concepts. Milan: McGraw-Hill.
- Manai, N. (2017). Siamo davvero classisti? The theory of etiquette by Howard Becker. Recovered from: https://www.frammentirivista.it/la-teoria-delletichettamento-becker/
- Marcon, G. (et al.) (2017). Oltre l’indizio. Verso a psycho-criminological reading of the crime. Padua: Webster.