Theoretical Analysis
Labeling Theory
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Rooted in Symbolic Interactionism
Labeling theory was developed by sociologists such as Edwin Lemert, Howard Becker, Edwin Schur, Kai Erikson during the mid-twentieth century to explain deviance.
Criminology has been harsher on labeling theory than some other substantive areas of sociology, including deviance and disability studies. I
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Labeling theory is not a theory that is good at explaining the etiology of initial crime. It is a theory that is better at explaining recidivism, or repeat crime.
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Labels – images (stereotypical images)
Societally constructed, even when individually acted upon. Thus, labels do not change to rapidly as they are maintained at the societal level.
(e.g., Criminal as Dangerous –societally constructed); at an individual level, an employer may not hire or a neighbor might shun.
Interesting point to ponder: many criminals are dangerous and labeling them helps keep society safe. Nevertheless, around half of all those incarcerated are there for non-violent offenses.
So, rather than create different labels for different crimes, we tend to operate under the label: criminal as dangerous.
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Applying labels
Labels of crime are a Master Status
A master status is a status that is considered more important than any other status and to which others are more likely to react.
Thus, for example, an employer might be reluctant to higher an ex-convict (master status) even if competent accountant (one of the other statuses the person occupies).
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Impact of labels
Labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. As others may react to the person based on the label, the person may become more enmeshed in the role of the label. Further, it is hard to disavow the deviance.
Ex-criminal, ex-alcoholic: the focus is not on the ex portion of the label, but the criminal (alcoholic) portion of the label.
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The self-fulfilling prophecy
An individual has decided in prison to become a conforming citizen. The ex-convict leaves prison and the label makes it difficult to secure employment. What is the outcome?
So, recidivism can be explained using the lens of labeling theory.
As opposed to the other cycle. For example, a pedophile repeats crime and whatever caused them to commit the first crime, produced subsequent crimes. Labeling theory does not explain this scenario.
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Do you think that labeling theory has efficacy for explaining criminal behavior?
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