"Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders." - Howard S. becker
Howard S. Becker: 1928- present
Chicago School of Sociology
Howard Becker's approach to the labeling of deviance, as described in Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of deviance and by doing so, accept the values of the majority within the social group. According to Becker, studying the act of the individual is unimportant because deviance is simply rule breaking behavior that is labeled deviant by persons in positions of power. Essentially, the behavior of the person does not matter until the label is applied. The rule breaking behavior is constant, the labeling of the behavior varies.
Becker describes rules as the reflection of certain social norms held by the majority of a society, whether formal or informal. Enforced rules, the focus of Becker's approach, are applied differentially and usually facilitate certain favorable consequences for those who apply the label. In short, members of the rule-making society may label rule breaking behavior deviant depending on the degree of reaction over time (Becker 1963). The type of behavior is dictated by society.
Becker views those people that are likely to engage in rule breaking behavior as essentially different than members of the rule-making or rule-abiding society. Those persons who are prone to rule-breaking behavior see themselves as morally at odds with those members of the rule-abiding society Becker uses the term "outsider" to describe a labeled rule-breaker or deviant that accepts the label attached to them and view themselves as different from "mainstream" society. Deviants may consider themselves more "outside" than others similarly labeled. Deviant outsiders might view those rule making or abiding members of society as being the outsiders of their social group (Becker 1963).
Chicago School of Sociology
Howard Becker's approach to the labeling of deviance, as described in Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963), views deviance as the creation of social groups and not the quality of some act or behavior. Becker is popular for criticizing other theories of deviance for accepting the existence of deviance and by doing so, accept the values of the majority within the social group. According to Becker, studying the act of the individual is unimportant because deviance is simply rule breaking behavior that is labeled deviant by persons in positions of power. Essentially, the behavior of the person does not matter until the label is applied. The rule breaking behavior is constant, the labeling of the behavior varies.
Becker describes rules as the reflection of certain social norms held by the majority of a society, whether formal or informal. Enforced rules, the focus of Becker's approach, are applied differentially and usually facilitate certain favorable consequences for those who apply the label. In short, members of the rule-making society may label rule breaking behavior deviant depending on the degree of reaction over time (Becker 1963). The type of behavior is dictated by society.
Becker views those people that are likely to engage in rule breaking behavior as essentially different than members of the rule-making or rule-abiding society. Those persons who are prone to rule-breaking behavior see themselves as morally at odds with those members of the rule-abiding society Becker uses the term "outsider" to describe a labeled rule-breaker or deviant that accepts the label attached to them and view themselves as different from "mainstream" society. Deviants may consider themselves more "outside" than others similarly labeled. Deviant outsiders might view those rule making or abiding members of society as being the outsiders of their social group (Becker 1963).
Frank Tannenbaum: 1893-1969
The earliest statements of latter-day labeling theory were made in the 1930's by Frank Tannenbaum.
In 1938, Frank Tannenbaum presented his own approach to labeling theory in response to his studies of juvenile participation in street gangs. Tannenbaum describes the process of defining deviant behavior as different among juvenile delinquents and conventional society, causing a "tagging" of juveniles as delinquent by mainstream society. The stigma that accompanies the deviant "tag" causes a person fall into deeper nonconformity (Pfohl, 1994).
Frank Tannenbaum introduced the concept of the "dramatization of evil." Tannenbaum’s view was that an act defined as evil is actually transformed into a definition of the actor as evil. He states that the process can be divided into three stages. In the first stage, the individual engages in activities which were first created through a maladjustment to society. It is in the second stage, however, that "there is a gradual shift from the definition of the individual as evil, so that all his acts come to be looked upon with suspicion." (Tannenbaum, 1938:17).
In the third stage of the process of the dramatization of evil, from the point of view of the individual, a change in his self-concept has taken place. Self-concept is what times Frank's research to that of the labeling theory.
The one who is singled out and labeled now recognizes that the definition of him as an individual is different from the other children in his community. This plays a greater role in making the criminal than perhaps any other experience. The individual lives in his own world and associates with those like him due to these changes. Therefore, once labeling occurs, the juvenile begins to engage in the same behavior which has been placed around him.
The earliest statements of latter-day labeling theory were made in the 1930's by Frank Tannenbaum.
In 1938, Frank Tannenbaum presented his own approach to labeling theory in response to his studies of juvenile participation in street gangs. Tannenbaum describes the process of defining deviant behavior as different among juvenile delinquents and conventional society, causing a "tagging" of juveniles as delinquent by mainstream society. The stigma that accompanies the deviant "tag" causes a person fall into deeper nonconformity (Pfohl, 1994).
Frank Tannenbaum introduced the concept of the "dramatization of evil." Tannenbaum’s view was that an act defined as evil is actually transformed into a definition of the actor as evil. He states that the process can be divided into three stages. In the first stage, the individual engages in activities which were first created through a maladjustment to society. It is in the second stage, however, that "there is a gradual shift from the definition of the individual as evil, so that all his acts come to be looked upon with suspicion." (Tannenbaum, 1938:17).
In the third stage of the process of the dramatization of evil, from the point of view of the individual, a change in his self-concept has taken place. Self-concept is what times Frank's research to that of the labeling theory.
The one who is singled out and labeled now recognizes that the definition of him as an individual is different from the other children in his community. This plays a greater role in making the criminal than perhaps any other experience. The individual lives in his own world and associates with those like him due to these changes. Therefore, once labeling occurs, the juvenile begins to engage in the same behavior which has been placed around him.
Edwin Lemert:
The first systematic analysis stressing the effects of social control system on the occurence and form of deviant behavior and crime was formed by Edwin M. Lemert.
It is also possible to cast Edwin Lemert as the progenitor of the societal reaction perspective, especially with reference to his 1951 book, Social Pathology. HereLemert initiated the argument that “deviations are not significant until they are organized subjectively and transformed into active roles and become the social criteria for assigning status (1951, p. 75; also see Lemert 1967). Much o f Lemerts work is accredited to the emergennce of primary and secondary diviance.
The first systematic analysis stressing the effects of social control system on the occurence and form of deviant behavior and crime was formed by Edwin M. Lemert.
It is also possible to cast Edwin Lemert as the progenitor of the societal reaction perspective, especially with reference to his 1951 book, Social Pathology. HereLemert initiated the argument that “deviations are not significant until they are organized subjectively and transformed into active roles and become the social criteria for assigning status (1951, p. 75; also see Lemert 1967). Much o f Lemerts work is accredited to the emergennce of primary and secondary diviance.
George Herbert Mead: Feb. 27, 1863- April 26, 1931
American philospher, sociologist, and psychologist.
One of the founders of Social Interactionism. Believed that people are compelled to see themselves as soceity perceives them to be.
American philospher, sociologist, and psychologist.
One of the founders of Social Interactionism. Believed that people are compelled to see themselves as soceity perceives them to be.