Labelling Theory Essays - Criminology, Labeling Theory,

Labelling Theory Deviance, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. There is nothing inherently deviant in any human act, something is deviant only because some people have been successful in labelling it so. J. L Simmons The definition of the situation implies that if you define a situation as real, it is real only in its consequences. INTRODUCTION Labelling theory, stemming from the influences of Cooley, Mead, Tannenbaum, and Lemert, has its origins somewhere within the context of the twentieth century. However, Edwin Lemert is widely considered the producer and founder of the original version of labelling theory. This paper, not a summary, provides a brief history of labelling theory, as well as, its role in the sociology of deviance. It attempts to explore the contributions made by labelling theorists, the criticism towards labelling theorists, and the discussion surrounding its reality as an actual theory. In essence, the main focus of this paper besides proving an understanding of Howard Becker, is to describe and evaluate `labelling theory` to the study of crime and deviance, by way of an in depth discussion. THEORETICAL IMAGES The theoretical study of societal reaction to deviance has been carried out under different names, such as, labelling theory, interactionist perspective, and the social constructionist perspective. In the sociology of deviance, the labelling theory of deviant behaviour is often used interchangeably with the societal reaction theory of deviancy. As a matter of fact, both phrases point equally to the fact that sociological explanations of deviance function as a product of social control rather than a product of psychology or genetic inheritance. Some sociologists would explain deviance by accepting without question definitions of deviance and concerning themselves with primary aetiology. However, labelling theorists stress the point of seeing deviance from the viewpoint of the deviant individual. They claim that when a person becomes known as a deviant, and is ascribed deviant behaviour patterns, it is as much, if not more, to do with the way they have been stigmatized, then the devian t act they are said to have committed. In addition, Howard S. Becker (1963), one of the earlier interaction theorists, claimed that, social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitute deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labelling them as outsiders. Furthermore, the labelling theoretical approach to deviance concentrates on the social reaction to deviance committed by individuals, as well as, the interaction processes leading up to the labelling. INFLUENCES Labelling theory was significantly influenced by the Chicago School and Symbolic Interactionism. The sociology department in the University of Chicago is where early labelling theorists received their graduate training. These theorists were trained in terms of symbolic interaction and specific methods of participatory field research. The symbolic interaction theory exposed early theorists to the study of social interaction, as well as, the interpretation of society from the actor's point of view. Everett Hughes and Alvin Gouldner were two of the earliest theorists to train at the Chicago School. However, the foundations of this view of deviance were said to have been first established by Edwin Lemert (1951) and were subsequently developed by Howard S. Becker (1963). As a matter of fact, labelling theory has subsequently become a dominant paradigm in the explanation of deviance. Furthermore, the symbolic interaction perspective was extremely active in the early foundations of labellin g theory. Labelling theory is constituted essentially by two propositions. The first is that deviant behaviour is to be seen not simply as the violation of a norm, but as any behaviour which is successfully defined or labelled as deviant. The deviance does not inhere in the act itself but in the response of others to that act. In other words, the deviance is said to be in the eye of the beholder. The second proposition claims that labelling produces or amplifies deviance. The deviant's response to societal reaction leads to secondary deviation by which the deviant comes to accept a self-image or self-definition as someone who is permanently locked within a deviant role. Furthermore, the distinctiveness of the approach is that it draws attention to deviance as the outcome of social imputations and the exercise of social control. Labelling theory is very complex, making it quite different than other theories. Instead of looking

Family Law Essay Topics

Family Law Essay TopicsIf you are planning on writing a family law essay, it is essential that you choose your topic carefully. It is very important that you think things through before you write about them. This will ensure that your family law essay topics are not full of inappropriate and unsavory information.First off, you need to ensure that you are submitting the essay to a law school. So, the legal terms used in the essay must be legal ones. Using terms that are not legal may disqualify you from the program. It is also best if you use a topic that you feel comfortable discussing, or one that you know a lot about.Secondly, it is important that you make the topic as interesting as possible. You will have to create a topic that will make you think. Familiarize yourself with the subject matter, and get the facts straight. If the topic is rather dull, chances are the court clerks or judges are too, so it may not be a good topic for you.It is also important that you know the basics of the subject matter at the law school that you want to apply to. You should research the type of court that you will be working in and how much the salary is. It is best if you know something about the courts in your area or have researched them before applying.The essays should have good grammar and spelling. You may want to find out more about the types of courts and judges, the case law, and other details of the topic. This will help you create your topics and help your essay stand out. Also, if the essay has poor grammar, it will reflect poorly on your whole resume.Family law essay topics can be a bit boring. You should consider finding topics that you find interesting. There are plenty of different subjects to choose from, and it may not be a problem if you don't feel like writing about a certain topic.The truth is that writing about legal topics and information is not always an easy task. It is important that you have the right knowledge, information, and facts at your dispo sal. Knowing what questions to ask is also important, as well as researching to ensure that the information you are using to write about the topic is accurate.