DB questions
ismails95
9LabelingTheory.pptxLabeling Theory
JD: Causes and Control (9)
1
Introduction to Labeling Theory
Focuses on official and informal reactions to delinquency
Focuses on impact of such reactions on juveniles
labeled “delinquents” viewed as bad
harsh/rejecting responses increase likelihood of further delinquency
Reduction in control
Increase in strain
Increase in social learning for crime
View themselves as delinquents
2
5 Major Questions (addressed by labeling theorists)
Why certain acts are defined as delinquent or status offenses
How others react to delinquency
What impact the reaction to delinquency has on further delinquency
3
Why some juvenile offenders are more likely than others to experience the “harsh/ rejecting” reaction
Whether some juvenile offenders are more likely than others to respond to the harsh/ rejecting reaction with further delinquency
4
Reactions to Juveniles’ Delinquency
Harsh/ rejecting reaction
Failure to respond
Condemn the bx, accept the juvenile
5
Harsh/ Rejecting
essential features
juveniles labeled delinquent
label leads others to view them as bad people
juveniles rejected and treated in harsh manner
reaction of official agencies can have negative effect
informal reactions by parents, teachers and others
parents may become overly strict or reject delinquent children
school personnel may harshly sanction and segregate delinquent children (School to Prison Pipeline/ Gun Free Schools Act)
6
Failure to Respond
reasons for little response
others never find out about delinquency
delinquent behavior ignored or only mildly sanctioned
does not deserve sanction
lack of good evidence
overwhelmed with more serious cases or with behavior
arguments for policy of “radical nonintervention”
most delinquency minor and juveniles “grow out of it”
labeling can make matters worse
7
recommendations for reducing intervention
police handle cases informally whenever possible
juvenile court officials divert from court whenever possible
place formally processed youth in community-based programs
legalize or decriminalize status and minor delinquent acts
criticisms of “radical nonintervention”
may reduce direct control
may reduce indirect control
8
Condemn BX, Accept Juvenile
essential features
sanction delinquent behavior without being overly harsh
conventional others maintain close ties to juvenile
arguments for this approach
eliminates negative effects of harsh/rejecting reaction and of radical nonintervention
helps develop internal control
9
restorative justice approach entails conference between offender, victim, family members of both, and community representatives
focus on helping offender appreciate harm caused by act
strategy developed to repair harm caused by act
apology
restitution to victim
community service
once harm repaired, offender forgiven and ties to community restored
10
How does a rejecting reaction cause delinquency?
Reduces various forms of control
direct control over juvenile lowered
parents/teachers avoid juvenile
apply harsh methods of discipline
juvenile’s stake in conformity reduced
emotional ties weakened with parents/teachers
investment in conventional society weakened
juvenile’s internal controls weakened
less likely to condemn delinquency
weakened efforts at self-control
11
Increases strain for juvenile
more difficult to achieve goals
possible loss of positive stimuli and presentation of negative stimuli
may increase level of irritability and so sensitivity to strains
12
Increases juvenile’s social learning of delinquency
more likely to associate with delinquent others who reinforce delinquency
increases exposure to delinquent models
more likely to develop beliefs and rationalizations favorable to delinquency
Creates delinquent self-concept
self-concept function of how others view and treat us
some juveniles viewed as bad may come to view themselves as bad
13
What factors increase the likelihood of a harsh response?
Frequency and/or seriousness of delinquency that becomes known to others
serious offenders often viewed as bad people deserving of harsh sanctions
justice system often harshly punishes these offenders
Socioeconomic characteristics of juvenile
lower-class juveniles (and parents) lack financial resources, connections, reputation, and negotiating skills to negotiate mild treatment
lower-class, certain minority group members, and older juveniles fit stereotype of serious delinquents
14
Gender differences for types of offense
males perhaps more severely sanctioned for serious offenses
females more harshly sanctioned for status offenses
Level of control and association with delinquent peers
Juveniles low in control who associate with delinquent peers treated more harshly
fit stereotypes of delinquent
less able to resist efforts of others
lack close ties to conventional others
poor problem solving skills
weak attachment to parents/ teachers
points illustrated with study of “Saints and Roughnecks”
15
What Factors Increase the Likelihood that Youth Will Respond to Harsh Response with Delinquency?
Low in control
Believe delinquency desirable or justifiable response
High in strain
16
Evidence of Labeling Theory
Ideal test would examine three groups of comparable offenders, each group receiving a different reaction—harsh/rejecting, failure to respond, or condemnation of behavior with acceptance of juvenile
Most tests compare arrested delinquents to comparable delinquents who have not been arrested
find slightly higher levels of subsequent delinquency for arrested delinquents
problems with this approach
many arrested juveniles do not experience harsh/rejecting reaction
cannot assume non-arrested juveniles do not experience harsh/rejecting reaction
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