Labeling Theory
Introduction
Psychosocial theories emphasize the variables that emerge as a result of interactions of the individual with other members of society. Some theorists suggest that the deviation is a product of labeling a person which drives him/her towards crime. This paper discusses the basic assumptions of labeling theory, which include: (a) an act or behavior that is exhibited by an individual, (b) the act that is evaluated and labeled deviant by a person designated as the labeler, and (c) the individual who exhibits the act (behavior) and who is referred to as the labelee (Hines, 2010).
Discussion
The labeling theory of deviant behavior, also called societal-reaction theory, postulates an interaction between individuals …show more content…
This shift is especially apparent in their empirical studies on secondary deviance. As we have noted, the original proponents, some theorists in particular, strongly emphasized the voluntaristic element in the process of a person’s becoming a secondary deviant – through active interaction with the labelers. But many of followers have tended to present the secondary deviant as a passive object whose behavior is totally determined by the labelers. So this has prompted to an observation that labeling theory “assumes an essentially empty organism, or at least one with little or no autonomous capacity to determine conduct. The process of developing deviance seems all societal response and no deviant stimulus (Hines, …show more content…
For example, argues that People 's self-feeling consists of three elements: (1) how we imagine we appear to others, (2) our imagination of how others judge our appearance, and (3) a resulting self-feeling. As a result, People evaluate their behavior, attitudes, and general appearance partly on the basis of how they think others evaluate them. The above discussion made it apparent that “we always imagine, and in imagining share, the judgments of the other person’s mind.” From such imaginings we derive self-feelings such as shame, pride, mortification, and embarrassment, among
Introduction
Psychosocial theories emphasize the variables that emerge as a result of interactions of the individual with other members of society. Some theorists suggest that the deviation is a product of labeling a person which drives him/her towards crime. This paper discusses the basic assumptions of labeling theory, which include: (a) an act or behavior that is exhibited by an individual, (b) the act that is evaluated and labeled deviant by a person designated as the labeler, and (c) the individual who exhibits the act (behavior) and who is referred to as the labelee (Hines, 2010).
Discussion
The labeling theory of deviant behavior, also called societal-reaction theory, postulates an interaction between individuals …show more content…
This shift is especially apparent in their empirical studies on secondary deviance. As we have noted, the original proponents, some theorists in particular, strongly emphasized the voluntaristic element in the process of a person’s becoming a secondary deviant – through active interaction with the labelers. But many of followers have tended to present the secondary deviant as a passive object whose behavior is totally determined by the labelers. So this has prompted to an observation that labeling theory “assumes an essentially empty organism, or at least one with little or no autonomous capacity to determine conduct. The process of developing deviance seems all societal response and no deviant stimulus (Hines, …show more content…
For example, argues that People 's self-feeling consists of three elements: (1) how we imagine we appear to others, (2) our imagination of how others judge our appearance, and (3) a resulting self-feeling. As a result, People evaluate their behavior, attitudes, and general appearance partly on the basis of how they think others evaluate them. The above discussion made it apparent that “we always imagine, and in imagining share, the judgments of the other person’s mind.” From such imaginings we derive self-feelings such as shame, pride, mortification, and embarrassment, among