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This 6 page paper discusses labeling theory and summarizes four case studies in which the theory was used. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
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6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVLabThr.rtf
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our own development. This paper discusses labeling theory and summarizes four case studies in which the theory was used. What is Labeling Theory Labeling theory "emerged out
of the symbolic interactionist school, during the 1950s and 1960s. According to Becker ... it is not the fact that an act is officially recorded as criminal or deviant
that matters. It is societal reaction that has causal significance. When society stigmatizes a person with the label of "delinquent or "criminal," the likelihood is increased that the
labeled person will act accordingly" (Clevenger and Birkbeck, 1996). This is because "the self is viewed as a social process subject to the reactions of others" (Downs, Robertson
and Harrison, 1997). There is "formal labeling" and "informal labeling," the former done by people like social workers, and the latter by friends and family (Downs, Robertson and Harrison,
1997). Psychology tells us that if we continually tell a child hes stupid or worthless, he will soon believe it-and began to act in ways that confirm it.
Thus, the theory would appear to be very powerful and it takes someone with a great deal of self-esteem to reject the labels applied to him. Labeling "represents an interactive
process that develops over time" (Downs, Robertson and Harrison, 1997). Since this is the case, its also possible that a reverse in behavior will cause a change in the
label (Downs, Robertson and Harrison, 1997). In addition, the appearance of "deviant behavior" in itself may be enough to cause others to start using labels "to describe the individual
in question" (Downs, Robertson and Harrison, 1997). (Deviant behavior in this context may require some explanation: a "deviant" person here is not necessarily perverted, as the word has
...