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                                                  LABELING THEORY


TRADITIONAL VERSUS LABELING THEORY

Traditional Theory

    1. There is a normative basis against which behavior can be evaluated
    2. Deviance is a quality of an act
    3. Deviants are a homogeneous category
    4. The objective of study should be deviants How did they become deviant Why do they continue in deviance despite social controls What sociocultural conditions are most conducive to deviance How may deviants best be controlled
Labeling Theory
    1. Cultural norms are relative and socially constructed
    2. Deviance is a quality of the response to an act
    3. Deviants are a heterogeneous category
    4. The objective of study should be the imposition of deviant status What acts and groups are designated as deviant How the labeling of these groups as deviant is accomplished How labeled individuals and groups manage their deviant status


 

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DEVIATION
Edwin Lemert

Primary deviation - the original causes or antecedents of deviant behavior are many and diverse. Deviance remains primary as long as it is rationalized or otherwise dealt with as a function of a socially acceptable role.

Secondary deviation - the socially defined responses actors make to the fact of their deviance

Usual sequence of primary and secondary deviation

    Primary deviation Social penalties

    Primary deviation Stronger social penalties

    Primary deviation with resentment and hostility beginning to focus on the penalizer

    A crisis in the tolerance quotient Strengthening of deviant conduct as a reaction to stigmatizing and penalties

    Ultimate acceptance of a deviant social status and efforts at adjustment on the basis of an associated role


 

EVIDENCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTED NATURE OF DEVIANCE

No specific act or behavior is deviant in all human groups

The definition of deviance changes over time

Deviance is a status determined by the social response to behavior and not a quality of the act

Some categories of deviance are created for which individual deviants are then found

Most categories of behavior occur on a continuum, with some forms treated as deviant and others not so treated


 

DEFINITION OF SOURCE OF BEHAVIOR



ACTORS                                       GOOD                                                BAD
 

GOOD                                   Character/Purpose                               Chance /Accident

 

BAD                                        Chance/Accident                                Character/Purpose
 


 

COMMON SOCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING LABELING


1. Individual characteristics of the offender

2. Power relationship between the offender and victim

3. Time at which the act was committed

4. Consequences of the act

5. Organizational context of the act

    Organization may be labelled but not the participants
    Organization may permit or encourage deviance but the individual participant is labeled

    Organization may be defined as deviant with the result that all members are labeled deviant

    The organization may be defined as deviant as a consequence of the behavior of some of its members

    The organization may be defined as deviant but only those members who can be specifically charge with behavioral participation are defined as deviant


 

POLICE ENCOUNTERS WITH JUVENILES


 

Alternatives Available To The Police

    1. Outright release

    2. Release and submission of a field interrogation report

    3. Official reprimand and release to family member

    4. Citation to juvenile court

    5. Arrest and confinement in juvenile hall

Cues Police Officers Use In Case Disposition
    1. Group affiliation

    2. Age

    3. Race

    4. Grooming

    5. Dress

    6. Demeanor

YOUTH'S DEMEANOR AND CASE DISPOSITION


CASE DISPOSITION                     COOPERATIVE                     UNCOOPERATIVE                     TOTAL

ARREST                                                     2                                                 14                                         16

CITATION/REPRIMAND                        4                                                   5                                           9

INFORMAL REPRIMAND                    15                                                   1                                         16

ADMONISH AND RELEASE                 24                                                   1                                         25

TOTAL                                                       45                                                 21                                         66
 


 

THE IMPACT OF LEGAL STIGMA ON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY


Common Attributes of Job Application Folders

    1. Male

    2. 32 years of age

    3. High school training in mechanical trades

    4. Record of successive short term jobs as a kitchen helper, maintenance worker and handyman

Differences in Job Application Folders
    1. Convicted and sentenced for assault

    2. Tried for assault but acquitted

    3. Tried for assault, acquitted by judge, with letter from judge

    4. No mention of criminal record

Employer Responses to Job Application Folders
 

                                      EMPLOYERS RESPONSE TO TYPES OF FOLDERS (in %)

                                                         4                3                2                1

POSITIVE                                      36              24              12              04

NEGATIVE                                    64              76              88              96


 

RITUAL PROCESSING OF DEVIANTS


Types of Rituals

    1. Rituals of passage -- basic training, marriage

    2. Rituals of enhancement -- innauguration, awards

    3. Rituals of degredation -- criminal trial, military court marital,  professional license revocation, mental competency hearing, heresy trial, impeachment

DEGREDATION RITUAL

Objective of Degredation Ritual

    1. Transform the public identity of an individual so as to lower their moral standing

    2. Create group solidarity around a new identity by ritualistically destroying the old individual and replacing him/her with a new individual

Process of Degredation Ritual
    Making the event and perpetrator stand out as "out of the ordinary"

    Identify the individual and act as characteristic of a type

    Denouncer must identify self as a public person

    Increase the distance of denounced individual from witnesses

Sequence of Degredation Ritual
    1. Coercive measures to insure appearance

    2. Temporary separation

    3. Presentation of charges

    4. Testing, evidence, evaluation

    5. Exclusionary procedures

    6. Reduction in rights and responsibilities

Indicators of Lower Moral Status
    1. Reduced claims making capacity

    2. Linguistic reorganization of essential qualities

      Use nouns instead or verbs

      Speak in present and not past tense