Lesson 4: Symbolic theory Interactions Explanations.

LABELING THEORY
1.)Etimology: the study of the origin and history of words, or a study of this type relating to one particular word.
 Etimology of Labeling Theory:
The idea of labeling theory flourished in American sociology during the 1960s, thanks in large part to
sociologist Howard Becker.
 Who is Howard Becker?
 Born on April 18, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois.
 Son of Allan Becker & Donna Becker.
 An american sociologist who teaches at Northwestern University.
 Wrote the book outsiders in 1963, provided the foundations for labeling theory.
 Becker has made contributions to the sociology of deviance, sociology of art, and sociology of music.
 Often called a symbolic interactionist or social constructionist.(although he does not align himself
with either method).

2.)Description of Theories:
Labeling Theory
 Posits that self-identity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to
describe or classify them. It is associated with the concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping.
Labeling theory holds that deviance is not inherent in an act, but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities
to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from standard cultural norms.

Three major theoretical directions to labeling theory

a. link’s modified labeling theory
 In 1989 Link’s modified labeling theory expanded the original framework of labeling theory to include a five-
stage process of labeling as it pertained to mental illness.
1.)the extent to which people believe that mental patients will be devalued and discriminated against by other
members of the community.
2.)the time period by which people are officially labeled by treatment agencies.
3.)when the patient responds to labeling through secrecy, withdrawal, or education.
4.) the negative consequences to this individual’s life that were brought about as a result of labeling.
5.) the final stage of vulnerability to future deviance as a result of the effects of labeling.
b. Braithwaite’s reintegrative shaming theory
 The theory of reintegrative shaming, examines the difference between stigmatization of the individual and
reintegrative(desegragate) shaming, or encouragement to stop the behaviour without labeling and
stigmatizing(classify) the individual in society.
 Essentially posits that reintegrative shaming will reduce crime, unlike stigmatization, which,
according to labeling theory, essentially increases it by encouraging future deviance(irregularity).
 The framework behind this theory is that individuals, after committing an act deemed as criminal or delinquent,
will be shamed by society for that act and then reaccepted back into society without a permanent label of “not
normal,” “deviant,” or “criminal.”
c. Matsueda and Heimer’s differential social control theory
 This theory relies on the concept of role taking, a concept that illustrates how individuals reflect on their
behaviour, how they are able to put themselves in the shoes of others in order to view the situation or behaviour
from the other’s standpoint, and how they evaluate alternative actions that would be more acceptable and not
seem as inappropriate in the eyes of others.

3.) In application to Social Work:

 The labeling theory suggest that people are given labels based on how others view their tendencies or
behaviors. Each individual is aware of how they are judged by others because he or she has adopted many
different roles and functions in social interactions and has been able to gauge the reactions of those present.
4.)Why do we need to know about it:
 Labeling theory emphasizes the social meanings imputed to deviant behavior and focuses on the un- folding
processes of interaction whereby self- definition is influenced by others.
 DIFFERENTIAL LABELING THEORY
1.) Etimology:
 Edwin Hardin Sutherland was a criminologist and educator. He earned a Ph.D. in sociology. Dr. Sutherland
developed the differential association theory in 1939, and it remains a valid theory in the 21st century.
 Who is Edwin Sutherland?
 Born on August 13, 1883, Gibbon, Nebraska.
 American Sociologist
 most influential criminologists of the 20th century.
 best known for defining white-collar crime and differential association.

2.)Description of Theories:
 The theory implies that one learns criminal behavior through interactions with those close to them and believes
that most of the learned behavior is due to family and social interaction.
 Based on the theory.
 If one hangs around a gang, they will become a game member.
 Social media also has its place in the development of deviant behavior. One may enjoy the limelight that
comes with media attention. Some deviant behavior occurs due to one feeling - the fame that media gives
to criminal behavior.
 The theory continues to suggest that if one were to commit a crime, they do so because they feel it is justified .
 Example:
 Someone steals a hat from a large department store. The thief rationalizes this because they think
stealing the hat does not hurt the store since it has insurance.

Sutherland’s Nine points

 The principles of Sutherland’s theory of differential association can be summarized into nine key points.
 Criminal behavior is learned.
 Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
 The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
 When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes techniques of committing the 
crime
  (which are sometimes very complicated, sometimes simple) and the specific direction of motives, drives,
rationalizations, and attitudes.
 The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or
unfavorable.
 A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions
unfavorable to violation of the law.
 Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
 The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all
of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.
 While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and 
values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same
needs and values.
3.) Application to Social Work:
 The behavioral-interactional dimension refers to the direct and indirect interactions and associations with
individuals that engage in delinquent activities.
 The normative dimension refers to the values which one is exposed to as a result of one's associations and
interactions with others.

4.)Why do we need to know about it:

 The hypothesis is that criminality is learned from observations of definitions favorable to law violation, the
learning including both the techniques of committing crime and the "specific direction of motives, drives,
rationalizations and attitudes."