Labeling Theory Essay

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me, is a familiar was saying taught to children at a young age to teach them to be strong, to avoid sheltering and build independence. However, that is untrue, over time these names are known as labels that can stick to a person and begin to build, define, and shape a person’s sense of self. These labels are created by a society that can stick to a person and categorizing people and is used to explain deviance. The purpose of this paper is to present the strengths, limitations of labeling theory, and to identify the impact this concept has on the structure of society and a person’s sense of self and image. Labeling theory emerged during the 1950s, that stemmed from symbolic interactionism suggest the continuous interaction and relationships between individuals contributes to the

Over time the claims-makers develop their small act into an issue that led to the implementation of new policies that made panhandling illegal (Parnaby 2003). This is a prime example as to how the transition from primary to secondary deviance is based on society reaction. Society reacted to a negative connotation, where squeegee kids were dehumanized and constructed as a problem based on labels created by claims-makers. As a result, labeling theory has a fault in the transition between primary to secondary deviance. Labeling theory demonstrates how society organizes and structures relationships, individuals, and classes based on an identity. Labeling theory is subjective, therefore the theory studied the way it is applied and the reaction of others. Labels dive deep into a person’s self-conscious and impacts that person sense of self, esteem, and the way society sees them. This theory itself brings true meaning to the concept that, the way you see yourself, is the way others will see