Robert Merton Labeling Theory

In the FX series Sons of Anarchy, we are shown the day to day lives of a motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming, California. This group of men spend their days participating in various means of illegal and illicit activities, as well as running an automotive repair shop out of the same property as their clubhouse. During the seven season run of the show I was able to draw upon some social-psychological principles believed to be relevant to this TV show and see how they manifest themselves, in this fictional motorcycle club world. One of the chief principles that is relevant to this motorcycle club (gang) is the Strain Theory, as written by Robert Merton. Merton’s Strain Theory, suggests that deviance arises when people striving …show more content…
When you first here the phrase Motorcycle club what comes to mind? Media has a lot to do with this label with movies and shows like this one. Also, the facts from past history related to motorcycle clubs such as “Hells Angels” has given the labeling theory due justice. Labeling theory is the view that reactions to norm violations are critical element of deviance. Only after an act is discovered and labeled “deviant” is the act recognized as such. There are four consequences of labeling a group/individual deviant. The first is Institutional deviance, individuals who label a behavior deviant may decide it that its own interest for the persons to continue its behavior. In this show there is a character named “Juice’ initially, serving as a strong ally for the club and its members in earlier seasons, he is later shown to be willing to work against his allies to serve his own interests (or the interests of others) and preserve his spot in the club. This eventually results in the other members not trusting him and, eventually, his excommunication. His actions in the later seasons make Juice the tertiary rival of the entire series. The second consequence is backtracking this is when the audience reacts too favorably to a rule violation, the actor may decide to discontinue the behavior. This relates to the character “Unser” Unser was the leading law enforcement at that start of the show. He knew about the MC deviance acts and was not able to control it. He even did some shady deviance of his own regarding the MC. Unser was label also deviant when he would allow MC actions slip by in regards to the MC’s deviant actions. He later tried to gain face by being tough however this did not fare well with the MC. Unser ended up retiring and pining after Jax’s mother “Gemma”. The third consequence is effective social control, this is when one threatens to end their association with an actor who continues to