Comparing Howard Becker And Max Weber's Labeling Theory

Labeling theory is a sociological concept that considers how people are labeled in society and the later impacts of this labeling on their self-identity and behavior. Furthermore, it looks at the concept of deviance - behavior that is different to the normal or accepted standards of society (The Free Dictionary), and highlights the “role of government agencies, and social processes in general, in the creation of deviance and crime”(Paternoster, R & Bachman, R 2013).

In her online lesson on labeling theory (Study.com), Erin Long-Crowell suggests that, “labeling others is common in our society,” and further states, “labeling theory proposes deviance is socially constructed through reaction instead of action.” Put simply, it is the reaction to a
Interaction theory further argues it is not the social background of people that leads to them becoming criminals, but that they become criminals because they are so labeled by authorities, which creates a stigma or negative label that changes their self-identity. In effect the application of the label often creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the person labeled begins to act in a manner that reflects the perception of their label.

This can lead to a cycle of public labeling, resultant rejection from social groups, increased deviance (ie: crime), official treatment of deviance (ie: arrest) and resulting difficulty job seeking and the emergence of a deviant career by joining an organized deviant group (Becker’s “Master Status” theory) (ReviseSociology, 2016). An example is the juvenile who is labeled a delinquent because he comes from a low-income background and is caught stealing, who then continues to steal because he knows that this is the expected behavior of a juvenile