Evaluate The Labeling Theory

Evaluation of the Labeling Theory In an attempt to get a better understanding of the effects of labeling, sociologists began conducting numerous of studies and experiments that initiated the labeling theory. This theory is based on symbolic interactionism, which empathizes the importance of language to a person’s behavior and how people interact with each other. The labeling theory was first derived and researched thoroughly by sociologists Frank Tannenbaum, Edwin Lemert, Howard Becker, William Chambliss, and Edwin Schur. (Labeling Theory, 2001). Most commonly in sociology and criminology, this theory is now extending to more others fields such as social psychology quarterly in relations to mental illness. As a result of the labeling theory
Despite this, writers and recent researchers can not differ when exactly sociologist began researching this theory. The general creation of the labeling theory is noted to being around the 1930s to the 1970s. Writers and researchers believe that in 1938 Frank Tannenbaum was the first researcher to concoct the labeling theory. His findings inaugurated the idea of “dramatization of evil” or the idea that once an individual is labeled as deviant, they begin to hang out with others who uphold the label rather than those who do not. After this occurs the person begins to develop a deviant an identity, which changes their attitude and behavior. In addition, Tannenbaum notes that “… the process of tagging criminals actually helps create delinquency and criminality”. This means that when labeling the public creates the concept of what behaviors and deviant and which one are not, which labels the behavior or crime rather than the person. Another essential point about the labeling theory was made by Edwin Lemert. It is unknown of when his research took place, but his research explains primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance alludes to an underlying demonstration that disregards some of societal standards or potently criminal law. At the point when the act is caught, people are regularly rebuffed through formal and casual means, and the discipline appends a
The first research regarding the labeling theory was experimented on juvenile gangs. Researchers observed their behavior in the juvenile petition and also asked cooperating juvenile gang members a series of interview questions. The data was collected from juveniles who varied between the ages of twelve to eighteen. The questions asked addressed their record as a deviant and the results of their crime. Furthermore, questions asked centered around the idea of whether or not they felt pressured to commit the crime and the labels they were associated with. After gathering the information, the researchers asserted the data into the type of deviance, primary and secondary. There observations and interviews led the “sociological writers to recognize that the official label of “deviant” had potentially negative effects on the young people concerned” (Labeling Theory, 2006). Subsequently, recidivism was also used when elucidating the collected data. Recidivism in the study made it apparent of why juveniles reoffend the criminal or deviant act. In other words, researchers finding led them to acknowledge the vulnerable of adolescences to the word “deviant”. Making it safe to say that with age a person becomes wiser, which lessens the labeling theory’s power and presence. With age and experience a person identity becomes more developed than before. Since