Labelling Theory: A Sociological Approach To The Study Of

Labelling theory is a sociological approach to the study of deviance, it emphasizes the ways in which rule breaking and role failure are maintained by the reactions of others, and focus on the importance of the symbolic meanings of health and illness (Pilgrim, 2014). Diagnosis of mental illness has turned out to be progressively reified that is, Individuals are being labelled and are seen as being mentally ill as opposed to having a mental illness. Unfortunately, negative generalizations are associated with mental illness, which may lead to tragic consequences for the sufferer. As indicated by the labelling theory, the stigma of being labelled as mentally ill makes it a risk factor to develop more serious symptoms of the mental illness due to impacts described in the self-fulfilling prophecy. There are two types of labels; primary and secondary. Primary deviance represents the illness experience. On the other hand, secondary deviant is constituted through the act of diagnosis, where the doctor categorizes and labels the patient with either an illness or being …show more content…
This concept refers to the situation of any disabled individual for full social acceptance. If a person is stigmatized its dependent on a social construction. The social environment in which we live establishes the categories of a person and are accepted. There arise expectations and the actual identity of a person is being replaced by a virtual identity that is established according to the fulfillment of those expectations. If they ever not meet these demands the individual stigmatized arises. A person with mental illness must face a double difficulty recovering: the disease itself and the prejudice and discrimination that receives this disorder. It is the social stigma, a burden of suffering that unnecessarily increases the problems of disease and is one of the main obstacles to successful treatment and