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Conflict and Labeling Theory

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Conflict and Labeling Theory
Conflict and Labeling Theory Labeling theory is concerned less with that causes the onset of an initial delinquent act and more with the effect that official handling by police, courts, and correctional agencies has on the future of youths who fall into the court system. Labeling theory states that youths violate the law for a number of reasons; these reasons are poor family relationships, neighborhood conflict, peer pressure, psychological and biological abnormality and delinquent learning experiences. Cesar Lombroso was called the father of Modern Criminology, originally came up with the labeling theory. (Labeling Theory) Cesar Lombroso classified criminals into four major categories: born criminals, insane criminals, occasional criminals and criminal of passion. Born criminals are a form of human sub-specie with arrested development and degeneracy. Lombroso believed that recurrence of previous behavior could be identified by a number of measurable physical traits, which included protruding jaw, drooping eyes, large ears, twisted and flattish nose, long arms relative to the lower limbs, sloping shoulders, and a resembled tail. Insane criminals are not “born criminals”; they become criminal as a result of an alteration of the brain, which completely upsets their moral nature. Occasional criminals unlike borne criminals are individuals that passively are looking to commit crimes and they lack in physical power. Those individuals are the once that crime is not committed on daily bases yet whenever the occasion comes up. Criminals of passion constitute the smallest percent of crimes, and in their cases the previous three categories take part in rounding up these individuals. (Criminalizing War :) Labeling theory focuses mainly on society's reaction to the persons and their behavior and effects of their behavior. Labeling theorist believe that the treatment of offenders in the labeling process depends on their behavior than on others may view their acts.


References: Farrell, R., & Holmes, M. (1991, December). The Social and Cognitive Structure of Legal Decision-Making. Academic Search Premier. Sociological Quarterly, 32(4), 529-542. Gallian, A.J Kriesberg, L. (1982, Summer82). Social Conflict Theories and Conflict Resolution. Academic Search Premier database. Peace & Change, 8(2/3). Lynch, M., Michalowki, R., & Groves, W Ruggiero, V. (2005, June). Criminalizing War: Criminology as Ceasefire. Social & Legal Studies, 14(2), 239-257. doi:10.1177/0964663905051221 Tittle, R.C Townsend, M.J., Stillings, N., Murphy, M.J. (1977, April). Labeling Theory. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Science, New Series, Vol. 196, No. 4289 , pp. 480+482+484+558 West, A Website: (2008)
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