What Is Labeling Theory?

When listening to this presentation, my mind constantly thought back to a concept we learned in class called labeling theory. Labeling theory describes how a society defines what is wrong or deviant, and assigns a deviant status to certain individuals. This status then tends to dominate the labeled individuals identity and behaviors. People can choose to accept the label that’s been given to them and act accordingly or reject it and try to prove society wrong. Either way, once a person has been labeled in a particular way, it can be hard disassociate yourself from. Because each person’s definition of what deviance means tends to vary, some individuals might consider the behaviors of those with mental illnesses to be deviant, simply because