What Is ‘Labeling Theory’ and What Might Be Its Limitations?

Labelling theory was developed during the 1950s/60s and is closely related to inter exploitionist and genial construction theories. It is essentially found upon the reaction of societal groups to definite behaviors that are carried out. Such societal groups view these types of behaviour as deviating from or violating social norms in some way and and so attach a label to it. The negative labels enforced on the individuals who carry out this behaviour may change how they look into themselves, influence how they act, and in turn may lead to degenerate behaviour being carried. According to Holdaway, S. (1988, p.44) labelling is a process, not a direct, causal force.
There are many sociologists who come looked into labelling theory and have given their own perspective on what they think it is. I am going to focus on the work of two sociologists in particular; Edwin Lemert and Howard Becker.
Edwin Lemert focuses on distinguishing amid primary and secondary aberrancy. According to Lemert, E. (1951, p.75) the passings remain primary deviations or symptomatic and situational as long as they are rationalized or otherwise dealt with as functions of a socially acceptable exercise.



In terms of secondary deviance, when a person begins to hold his deviant behaviour or a role based upon it as a means of defense, attack, or adjustment to the patent and covert problems created by the consequent societal reaction to him, his deviation is secondary. In short, primary deviation is the initial act and secondary deviation is the public response to that particular act.
A second perspective comes from Howard Becker. According to Becker, H. (1963, p.9):
social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular quite a little and labeling them as outsiders. From this point of view, deviance is not a attribute of the act the person commits, but rather a result of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an...If you want to get a plentiful essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



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