Essay On Labeling Theory

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Labeling theory is closely related to social-construction and symbolic-interaction analysis. It means that deviance is not a natural tendency of an individual, but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from standard cultural norms. The theory is based off how people tend to own up to what society claims them to be. The theory came about during the 1960s and 1970s. A lot of the theory’s symptoms are still noticeable today.
Labeling theory looks at why this person continued to commit crime or was more prone to do so and then come to be defined as deviant, while others do not. Labeling theory is also interested in the effects of labeling on individuals. Labeling theorists note that most people commit crimes at some time in their lives but not everyone becomes defined as a deviant or a criminal. Deviant behavior usually means behavior that isn’t normal for the person, or just very out of character.
Once you write some one off as something, for example a thief, that person is going to be more prone to steal because the world now sees them as thief. Research calls this a master status which means the person stealing once, makes them a thief to society, and now all of their other characteristics no longer matter. He or she becomes a 'hooligan' or 'thief' when this person is also a friend a Christian or a parent. Each label you place on a person carries. For example a person is the treasure at the church, but the treasure has committed a robbery once before in his life. If that got out, people at the church would worry if this person is trust worthy enough with the churches money because years ago he committed a robbery so now he’s just a thief but what the people at the chur...

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...t important? If you have that doesn’t make you any less qualified for the job
There are many reasons for conducting research such as educating yourself on a specific topic, material, product, or scenario. Without doing proper research you will not be able to conduct a valid argument when trying to prove your point. My reason for conducting this field of research is to educate and explain my own personal views. After conducting this research I have come to the conclusion that the labeling theory plays a big part in the making of habitual offenders. As people we see the word felony or even misdemeanor after a person’s name and we immediately write them off as just that. If society continues this, and never give these people a second chance to actually start over and do better, what else can they do, other than live up to what society has already wrote them off as.

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