George Herbert Mead's Labeling Theory
Question 1:
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) was a symbolic interactionist that pointed out just how essential play was to one's development of "self". To speak on this topic, first I need to define just what the term "self" means. The author of the text, James M. Henslin, defines self as the unique human capacity of being able to see ourselves "from the outside"; the views we internalize of how others see us. Mead believed that as children begin and continue to play with those around them they begin to take to take the role of the other. They are essentially learning how to put themselves in somebody else's shoes. This learned skill allows the growing child the opportunity and skillset to understand how the other person is feeling and thinking, …show more content…
Within that term we delve in the "labeling theory". Deviance is defined as the violation of norms (or rules or expectations). Sociologists use this term to refer to any type of violation. Sociologist Howard S. Becker described deviance this way: "It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act that make something deviant" (Henslin 146). This quote seems to accurately describe just what deviance is and how we as human beings view something or someone or an act as deviant. The term "labeling theory" is one that focuses on just how significant reputations are and how they help or hurt us. One's reputation can steer them towards deviant behavior or it can do the opposite and divert them away from it. Nobody wants to have a "bad" reputation. We resist negative labels and reputations. We resist ones that people attempt to pin on us if we feel it seemingly isn't us and will hurt us in the long run. Some people reject these labels, even those that do nothing but negative and wrongdoing. Some people neutralize or deflect society's norms. Reasons as to why their deviance is accepted in their own book. Why it should be accepted in society's book as well. While some of us deflect and go in the opposite direction of deviant behavior and deviance, there are some who strive for a deviant identity, and do not care how they will be
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) was a symbolic interactionist that pointed out just how essential play was to one's development of "self". To speak on this topic, first I need to define just what the term "self" means. The author of the text, James M. Henslin, defines self as the unique human capacity of being able to see ourselves "from the outside"; the views we internalize of how others see us. Mead believed that as children begin and continue to play with those around them they begin to take to take the role of the other. They are essentially learning how to put themselves in somebody else's shoes. This learned skill allows the growing child the opportunity and skillset to understand how the other person is feeling and thinking, …show more content…
Within that term we delve in the "labeling theory". Deviance is defined as the violation of norms (or rules or expectations). Sociologists use this term to refer to any type of violation. Sociologist Howard S. Becker described deviance this way: "It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act that make something deviant" (Henslin 146). This quote seems to accurately describe just what deviance is and how we as human beings view something or someone or an act as deviant. The term "labeling theory" is one that focuses on just how significant reputations are and how they help or hurt us. One's reputation can steer them towards deviant behavior or it can do the opposite and divert them away from it. Nobody wants to have a "bad" reputation. We resist negative labels and reputations. We resist ones that people attempt to pin on us if we feel it seemingly isn't us and will hurt us in the long run. Some people reject these labels, even those that do nothing but negative and wrongdoing. Some people neutralize or deflect society's norms. Reasons as to why their deviance is accepted in their own book. Why it should be accepted in society's book as well. While some of us deflect and go in the opposite direction of deviant behavior and deviance, there are some who strive for a deviant identity, and do not care how they will be