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Labeling Theory

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Handbook on Crime and Deviance

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Labeling theory provides a distinctively sociological approach that focuses on the role of social labeling in the development of crime and deviance. The theory assumes that although deviant behavior can initially stem from various causes and conditions, once individuals have been labeled or defined as deviants, they often face new problems that stem from the reactions of self and others to negative stereotypes (stigma) that are attached to the deviant label (Becker, 1963; Lemert, 1967). These problems in turn can increase the likelihood of deviant and criminal behavior becoming stable and chronic. In the words of Lemert (1967), deviant behavior can become “means of defense, attack, or adaptation” (p. 17) to the problems created by deviant labeling. Thus, being labeled or defined by others as a criminal offender may trigger processes that tend to reinforce or stabilize involvement in crime and deviance, net of the behavioral pattern and the social and psychological conditions that existed prior to labeling.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The current chapter focuses on the effect of labeling and stigma on the development of criminal or deviant behavior and thus does not provide a comprehensive overview of the various dimensions of labeling theory, including its implications for social construction and conflict theory (see Becker, 1963; Melossi, 1985; Paternoster & Iovanni, 1989).

  2. 2.

    Relatedly, conflict theory argues that racial minorities and the impoverished have restricted access to law-making and criminal justice policy, and hence their interests are often not represented in the laws, policies, and organizations that determine the criminalization (labeling) process (Reiman, 1995). Accordingly, deviance associated with the powerless tends to be labeled as criminal, whereas deviance associated with the powerful often escapes criminalization and stigma.

  3. 3.

    Klein (1986) reports that the treatment condition had no effect on self-reported delinquency in a follow-up survey that was conducted about 9 months later on a subsample of the initial sample of offenders. However, the subsample consisted of only those subjects that participated in the follow-up survey, about 60% of the initial sample. These findings are suspect. The null findings may be due to sampling bias in which the more serious offenders tend not to be included in the follow-up survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jón Gunnar Bernburg

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  1. Jón Gunnar Bernburg
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany, Washington Ave. 1400, Albany, 12222, USA

    Marvin D. Krohn

  2. School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany, Washington Ave. 1400, Albany, 12222, U.S.A.

    Alan J. Lizotte

  3. School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany, Washington Ave. 1400, Albany, 12222, U.S.A.

    Gina Penly Hall

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Bernburg, J.G. (2009). Labeling Theory. In: Krohn, M., Lizotte, A., Hall, G. (eds) Handbook on Crime and Deviance. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0245-0_10

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