Evaluate The Labeling Theory

Evaluation of the Labeling Theory In an attempt to get a better understanding of the effects of labeling, sociologists began conducting numerous of studies and experiments that initiated the labeling theory. This theory is based on symbolic interactionism, which empathizes the importance of language to a person’s behavior and how people interact with each other. The labeling theory was first derived and researched thoroughly by sociologists Frank Tannenbaum, Edwin Lemert, Howard Becker, William Chambliss, and Edwin Schur. (Labeling Theory, 2001). Most commonly in sociology and criminology, this theory is now extending to more others fields such as social psychology quarterly in relations to mental illness. As a result of the labeling theory
expanding; when used in other fields the theory is referred to as the “Modified Labeling Theory”, which separates the original labeling theory from the modified version. Primarily, in broad fields of social sciences the labeling theory can be explained as a theory that shows the relationship and impact that labels have on one’s self identity and behavior. While in criminology, the labeling theory expresses the effects of labeling crimes as “deviant” and ventures to describe the reasons why someone may commit a deviant act. As stated in the Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology (2006), the word “deviance” can be explained as “non-normative behavior that, if detected, can be subject to informal or formal sanctions” (Deviance, 2006). In the eyes of law, deviant acts are known as criminal; likewise, in the eyes of the public deviant acts are known as unacceptable and are negatively perceived. The study of the deviant behavior was examined rigorously by Howard Becker. In the Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), Becker revealed the definition of deviance in the sociology field and stand point ((Labeling Theory, 2006). Judging by the definition in this study, it is clear to state that deviance is justified and crucified by the public. The deviance of an act depends on how the public reacts to the act or behavior, which is known as social power and influence. On the other hand, in the social psychology quarterly in relations to mental illness, the extensive definition of the labeling theory or the modified labeling theory merely mentions the pessimistic consequences that come about when labeling an individual’s illness as abnormal. There is limited research for this modified theory, but the research conducted shows the effects of negatively labeling a mental illness, making one feel indifferent. Moreover, in this field the negative labels associated with mental illnesses cause mentally ill patients to feel negatively and trigger self-identity crisis. The interpretation of all the data and sources show the relationship between one’s labels and behavior, in connection to the overall effects of the labeling theory. The labeling theory is precise while describing how a human’s behavior may be effected by negative labels; however, there are certain factors the theory does not take into consideration.
Background of the Labeling Theory and Modified Labeled Theory
The Labeling Theory in Criminology/Sociology
The labeling theory has a compulsive background that suggests the sociologist who first began researching the theory.
Despite this, writers and recent researchers can not differ when exactly sociologist began researching this theory. The general creation of the labeling theory is noted to being around the 1930s to the 1970s. Writers and researchers believe that in 1938 Frank Tannenbaum was the first researcher to concoct the labeling theory. His findings inaugurated the idea of “dramatization of evil” or the idea that once an individual is labeled as deviant, they begin to hang out with others who uphold the label rather than those who do not. After this occurs the person begins to develop a deviant an identity, which changes their attitude and behavior. In addition, Tannenbaum notes that “… the process of tagging criminals actually helps create delinquency and criminality”. This means that when labeling the public creates the concept of what behaviors and deviant and which one are not, which labels the behavior or crime rather than the person. Another essential point about the labeling theory was made by Edwin Lemert. It is unknown of when his research took place, but his research explains primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance alludes to an underlying demonstration that disregards some of societal standards or potently criminal law. At the point when the act is caught, people are regularly rebuffed through formal and casual means, and the discipline appends a
deviant label. Furthermore, secondary deviance is made by societal responses and denouncing labels. This then results in individuals associating themselves with their label and start to consider themselves in a similar way. At that point, indivuals become continent with their deviant label, continuing their deviant behavior. After Tannenbaum’s and Lemert’s research, sociologists Howard Becker, William Chambliss, and Edwin Schur further investigated the theory.
The Modified Labeling Theory in Social Psychology Quarterly in Relations to Mental Illness
The modified labeling theory as used in the field social psychology quarterly in relations to mental illness has a limited background. After the labeling theory gained popular in criminology around the 1930s and the 1970s, more researchers began to utilize the theory in other fields. In agreement with Exploring the Role of Diagnosis in the Modified Labeling Theory of Mental Illness (2008), it can be said that the modified labeling theory was first researched by Link, Markowitz, and Rosenfield in the late 1980s or early 1990s (Kroska, A., & Harkness, 2008). There studies showed “the negative consequences of psychiatric labeling”. This claim made it evident that labeling mental illnesses had negative effect that effected the mentally ill person’s self-identity and their interactions with the general public. These inceptive findings lead to the study becoming researched additionally by other researches in 2006 (Kroska, A., & Harkness, 2008). Now the modified labeling theory is more frequently utilized when someone is diagnosed with a mental illness.
Literature Review
The Labeling Theory in Criminology/Sociology
From researchers’ findings, readers can interpret the concept that adolescences are more vulnerable to the labeling theory.
The first research regarding the labeling theory was experimented on juvenile gangs. Researchers observed their behavior in the juvenile petition and also asked cooperating juvenile gang members a series of interview questions. The data was collected from juveniles who varied between the ages of twelve to eighteen. The questions asked addressed their record as a deviant and the results of their crime. Furthermore, questions asked centered around the idea of whether or not they felt pressured to commit the crime and the labels they were associated with. After gathering the information, the researchers asserted the data into the type of deviance, primary and secondary. There observations and interviews led the “sociological writers to recognize that the official label of “deviant” had potentially negative effects on the young people concerned” (Labeling Theory, 2006). Subsequently, recidivism was also used when elucidating the collected data. Recidivism in the study made it apparent of why juveniles reoffend the criminal or deviant act. In other words, researchers finding led them to acknowledge the vulnerable of adolescences to the word “deviant”. Making it safe to say that with age a person becomes wiser, which lessens the labeling theory’s power and presence. With age and experience a person identity becomes more developed than before. Since
adolescences are still finding themselves, the use of the term “deviant” creates an internal conflict, changing their beliefs and how they identify themselves. Although this theory is very precise when it comes to adolescences; the effects differ in adults, making it more difficult to prove the labeling theory in their case. This is also correlates to the fact of why noted experiments and research has only been performed on adolescences.
The Modified Labeling Theory in Social Psychology Quarterly in Relations to Mental Illness Albeit mental illness is a common illness millions of people experience, researchers believe that the negative labels associated with mental illness effect mentally ill patients. Researchers Amy Kroska and Sarah Harkness developed the hypothesis that once one is diagnosed with a mental illness, they stimulate negative feelings about themselves due to the negative labels society associates with mentally ill people by perusing old studies and conducting studies of their own. Their results empathized the differences in self-meanings by diagnosis. The researchers conducted research questions that focused on how mentally ill patients saw themselves and how they believed others saw them. The data was collected from two general hospitals within around three months of being diagnosed. 142 mentally ill patients were surveyed and interviewed. Out of the 142 patients 32 or 22.5% had an adjustment diagnosis, 83 or 65.5% had an affective diagnosis, and 17 (12%) had a schizophrenic diagnosis). To elaborate, stigma sentiments were utilized in the study to show the relationship between how a schizophrenic patient views themselves and society’s view of the patient. All of the diagnosis had similar results that suggested that correlated with their symptoms severity. The more serve the mental disorder, the more likely the patient was to lack confidence and feel bad about themselves. For example, since schizophrenic is the most severe mental illness, this illness most correlated with the stigma sentiments hypothesis. Less severe illnesses, such as an adjustment diagnosis and affective diagnosis exemplified that the patients were more positive then schizophrenic patients. The data from the study revealed that there were two social psychological processes that occur when a mental ill person is encountered with negative labels. The first social psychological process that occurs is that society’s labels of mentally ill are converted into the patients self-feelings. Next, the second social psychological process occurs, which consists of the mentally ill’s behavior changing due to the public’s labels. All-inclusive, all of the patients felt ashamed due to society’s labels.
Research Design
The Labeling Theory in Criminology/Sociology As a result of attempting to discover more information on the labeling theory, researcher Zaniya Caine interviewed her father Kenneth Whitehead. The researcher felt her father was a valid person to interview because Whitehead has been imprisoned more once, making he a well rational individual to interview, who knows and understands the legal system. Caine developed her research questions by evaluating previous researcher’s questions and angling her questions in a way that Whitehead could comprehend and appreciate. Though her questions, Caine wanted to ensure that results showed the effects of the labeling theory, but also its downfalls. For that reason, when Caine fostered her research questions, she focused on Whitehead’s juvenile background and background as an adult. This method of fostering questions allowed Caine to see the labeling theory in both a juvenile’s and adult’s perspective. Caine’s main purpose was to gain additional information on the labeling theory and to see how one labeled as a “deviant” views the theory itself. Caine wanted to make certain that her findings correlated with previous studies making a considerable connection. The researcher conducted her interview at her house over refreshments assuring that Whitehead felt comfortable. Caine believed that this would result in Whitehead being honest about his experiences when responding to the interview questions. Consequently, these factors contributed to the interview going respectful and substantial.