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LABELING THEORY OF
SOCIAL DEVIANCE
Dan Jerome S. Barrera
Negros Oriental State University
Dumaguete City
Presented on Sept. 26, 2015 at the UC Graduate PhD-CJ Class under Dr. Paulino Pioquinto
Objectives
Contents
Philosophical foundations
Theoretical propositions
Theoretical propositions
Processes leading to greater probability of deviance. Source: Adapted from Paternoster and Iovanni (1989).
LABELING THEORY
SWOT ANALYSIS
LABELING THEORY
STRENGTHS
While other theories focus on individual and other social factors in crime
causation, labeling theory focuses mainly on the role of the society,
especially the CJS role, in escalating deviance (Barrick, 2014; Wellford,
1975)
This stance is particularly relevant to a current movement in criminal
justice the use of restorative justice (especially in juvenile delinquency).
Recent reviews of research reveal support of the criminogenic effect of
CJS responses on future offending (Barrick, 2014; Petrosino, TurpinPetrosino & Guckenburg, 2010; see also current research of Liberman,
Kirk & Kim, 2014; Restivo & Lanier, 2015; Wiley, Slocum & Esbensen,
2013), thereby supporting Lemerts (1951) secondary deviation
hypothesis.
Strength # 3 It is complex
Strength # 4 It is dynamic
LABELING THEORY
WEAKNESSES
LABELING THEORY
OPPORTUNITIES
LABELING THEORY
THREATS
Conclusion
Labeling theory has its own merits that it sharply departs from
traditional theories and divert the focus away from the individual to
the effects of responses of the criminal justice system.
However, because of its inherent ambiguity, the theory had received
severe criticisms and weak empirical support in 1970s and 1980s.
Nevertheless, some criminologists had somewhat rescued the
theory from the hands of researchers who misinterpreted the theory.
The former had clarified the mechanisms through which labeling
leads to secondary deviance and suggested how the theory might
be rigorously tested. In effect, labeling theory is revitalized and at its
recent renaissance in criminology.
References
Barrick, K. (2014). A review of prior tests of labeling theory. In D. Farrington & J.
Murray (Eds.), Labeling theory: Empirical tests. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction
Publishers.
Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. New York:
Free Press.
Bernburg, J. (2009). Labeling theory. In M.D. Krohn, A.J. Lizotte & Hall, G.P. (Eds),
Handbook of Crime and Deviance. New York, NY: Springer.
Bernburg, Jon Gunnar, and Marvin D. Krohn. 2003. Labeling, life chances, and
adult crime: The direct and indirect effects of official intervention in adolescence
on crime in early adulthood. Criminology, 41:1287318.
References cont
Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-hall, Inc.
Farrington, D., & Murray, J. (2014). Labeling theory: Empirical tests. New Brunswick, NJ:
Transaction Publishers.
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critique. Theoretical Criminology, 4(1), 35-53.
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University Press.
Gove, W. (1970). Social reaction as an explanation of mental illness: An evaluation.
American Sociological Review, 35, 873-84.
References cont
Hebenton, B. & Jou, S. (2012). Taiwan's criminological footprint
a review and analysis of English-language publication trends for Taiwan and selected
Asian comparators (20002010). International Journal of Comparative and Applied
Criminal Justice,
Lemert, E. M. 1951. Social Pathology: A Systematic Approach to the Theory of
Sociopathic Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lemert, E. (2000). Rules, deviance and social control theory. In E.M. Lemert, C.C. Lemert
& M.F. Winter (Eds.), Crime and deviance: Essays and Innovations of Edwin M. Lemert.
Liberman, A.M., Kirk, D., & Kim, K. (2014). Labeling effects of first juvenile arrests:
Secondary deviance and secondary sanctioning. Criminology, 52(3), 345-370.
References cont
Liu, J. (2009). Asian criminology Challenges, opportunities, and directions. Asian
Journal of Criminology, 4, 1-9.
Matsueda, R. (1992). Reflected appraisals, parental labeling, and delinquency:
Specifying a symbolic interactionist theory. American Journal of Sociology, 97(6), 15771611.
Matsueda, R. (2014). The natural history of labeling theory. In D. Farrington & J. Murray
(Eds.), Labeling theory: Empirical tests. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Paternoster, R., & Iovanni, L. (1989). The labeling perspective and delinquency: An
elaboration of the theory and assessment of the evidence. Justice Quarterly, 6:35994.
References cont
Petrosino, A., Turpin-Petrosino, C., & Guckenburg, S. (2010). Formal system
processing of juveniles: Effects on delinquency. Campbell Systematic Reviews 2010:1
88.
Restivo, E. & Lanier, M. (2015). Measuring the contextual effects and mitigating factors
of labeling theory. Justice Quarterly, 32(1), 116-141.
Sampson, R.J., & Laub, J.H. (1997). A life-course theory of cumulative disadvantage
and the stability of delinquency. In T.P. Thornberry (Ed.), Developmental Theories of
Crime and Delinquency, Advances in Criminological Theory. New Brunswick, NJ:
Transaction.
Scheff, T.J. (1974). The labelling theory of mental illness. American Sociological
Review, 39, 444-452.