Labelling Theory - Essay Example

Labeling theory presents a distinctly sociological perspective that concentrates on the role played by social labeling in the progression of deviance and crime. This theory posits that individuals who bear deviant labeling face myriad problems that emanate from the response of self, as well as others to undesirable stereotypes or stigma associated with the labels. Consequently, these problems raise the chances of criminal or deviant behavior becoming permanent. In other terms, deviant behavior can turn out to be a means of adaptation, defense, or attack to the issues brought about by deviant labeling (Krohn, Lizotte, and Hall 187).

Therefore, labeling or defining individuals as criminal offenders spurs processes that stabilize or reinforce participation in a crime or other conditions present before the labeling. Lemert’s contribution to criminology was significant, especially in differentiating between primary and secondary deviation. He referred to primary deviance as instances when individuals engage in behavior that violates the norms of a society without seeing himself or herself as taking part in a deviant action.

The deviations are dealt with or rationalized as roles of socially satisfactory roles. On the other hand, secondary deviation refers to the occurrence when an individual starts to employ a deviant function or action as a defense, adjustment, or attack mechanism to the covert and overt issues developed by the resultant societal response to him. Some of the objective evidence associated with this change are in symbolic appurtenances of the novel role, speech, clothes, and mannerisms (Cordella and Siegel 130).