Criminology is the study of crimes and how they impact society. Criminological theories help to do just that. These theories try to explain why people commit crimes and what punishments should be delivered in order to prevent future crimes. Over the years many theories have been created in reflection of the changing beliefs of why crimes occur. These theories include deterrence theory and labeling theory. These theories completely contradict one another. Labeling theory accurately describes the effects of legal punishment in the United States criminal justice system.
The first criminological theory to be discussed is deterrence theory. Deterrence theory was heavily influenced by Cesare Beccaria with his notions that human beings have a free will, are hedonistic, and rational. Deterrence theory is based on the objective of punishing a person for his or her crimes to the highest degree appropriate for that crime in order to stop them …show more content…
Frank Tannenbaum began to theorize that young people engage in devious acts as a result of chance or as a part of growing up. He continued on to say that if young people were caught and punished that it would result in a stigma or a negative image of this individual. Therefore, labeling theory states that once one is label they begin to internalize or accept this label. This label then becomes a part of their personal identity. Edwin Lemert broadened this theory even further by introducing primary and secondary deviance. According to Labeling Theory, primary deviance is the initial acts of deviance which are mostly committed during one’s youth. Primary deviance is normally not serious and infrequent. Secondary deviance is the continued participation of deviant acts after one is labeled which results in an “identity transformation” (2). By internalizing this label, one develops a new self-image as a criminal or deviant thus enticing them to commit crimes even
The first criminological theory to be discussed is deterrence theory. Deterrence theory was heavily influenced by Cesare Beccaria with his notions that human beings have a free will, are hedonistic, and rational. Deterrence theory is based on the objective of punishing a person for his or her crimes to the highest degree appropriate for that crime in order to stop them …show more content…
Frank Tannenbaum began to theorize that young people engage in devious acts as a result of chance or as a part of growing up. He continued on to say that if young people were caught and punished that it would result in a stigma or a negative image of this individual. Therefore, labeling theory states that once one is label they begin to internalize or accept this label. This label then becomes a part of their personal identity. Edwin Lemert broadened this theory even further by introducing primary and secondary deviance. According to Labeling Theory, primary deviance is the initial acts of deviance which are mostly committed during one’s youth. Primary deviance is normally not serious and infrequent. Secondary deviance is the continued participation of deviant acts after one is labeled which results in an “identity transformation” (2). By internalizing this label, one develops a new self-image as a criminal or deviant thus enticing them to commit crimes even