Labelling theory is the idea that pupils can be labelled by teachers as deviant due to social factors rather than actual deviant behaviour . Once a pupil is labelled it is often difficult to discard, this then can lead on to the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What is labeling theory in education?
According to labelling theory, teachers actively judge their pupils over a period of time, making judgments based on their behaviour in class, attitude to learning, previous school reports and interactions with them and their parents , and they eventually classifying their students according to whether they are ‘high’ ...
What is an example of labeling theory?
For example, a person who volunteers to stay late at work is usually seen as worthy of praise , but, if a person has been labelled as a thief, people might be suspicious that they will steal something. For some people once a deviant label has been applied this can actually lead to more deviance.
What are the principles of Labelling theory?
The basic assumptions of labeling theory include the following: no act is intrinsically criminal; criminal definitions are enforced in the interest of the powerful; a person does not become a criminal by violating the law; the practice of dichotomizing individuals into criminal and non-criminal groups is contrary to ...
What is Becker’s Labelling theory?
Howard Becker (1963): his key statement about labelling is: “ Deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an ‘offender’ . Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label.”
Why is Labelling theory important?
Labeling theory is one of the most important approaches to understanding deviant and criminal behavior . It begins with the assumption that no act is intrinsically criminal. ... By applying labels to people and creating categories of deviance, these officials reinforce society’s power structure.
Why is labeling theory important to a teacher?
Why is labeling theory important to a teacher? The labels which teachers give to pupils can influence the construction and development of students’ identities , or self-concepts: how they see and define themselves and how they interact with others.
What is the labeling theory in simple definition?
Labeling theory posits that self-identity and the behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them . It is associated with the concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. ... Labeling theory was developed by sociologists during the 1960s.
What are the different types of labeling theories?
There are three major theoretical directions to labeling theory. They are Bruce Link’s modified labeling, John Braithwaite’s reintegrative shaming , and Ross L. Matsueda and Karen Heimer’s differential social control.
What is Labelling and examples?
Labelling, or labeling, is defined as the process of attaching a descriptive word or phrase to someone or something. An example of labelling is the process of putting signs on jars that say what is inside . An example of labelling is calling everyone from Oklahoma an “Oakie.”
What are the effects of Labelling theory?
According to labeling theory, official efforts to control crime often have the effect of increasing crime . Individuals who are arrested, prosecuted, and punished are labeled as criminals. Others then view and treat these people as criminals, and this increases the likelihood of subsequent crime for several reasons.
How do labels affect our identities?
Throughout our lives, people attach labels to us, and those labels reflect and affect how others think about our identities as well as how we think about ourselves. Labels are not always negative; they can reflect positive characteristics, set useful expectations , and provide meaningful goals in our lives.
What is Labelling theory in mental health?
According to labeling theory, the stigma of being labeled mentally ill actually causes one to be mentally ill as a result of effects described as self-fulfilling prophecy . According to a modified version of the theory, assumptions about causation are omitted, and only the negative impact on self-concept is addressed.
Who made Labelling theory?
The labelling theory was developed and popularised by American sociologist Howard S. Becker in his 1963 book Outsiders.
What is Durkheim’s theory?
Durkheim believed that society exerted a powerful force on individuals . People’s norms, beliefs, and values make up a collective consciousness, or a shared way of understanding and behaving in the world. The collective consciousness binds individuals together and creates social integration.
How does the Labelling theory explain crime?
Labelling theory argues that criminal and deviant acts are a result of labelling by authorities – and the powerless are more likely to be negatively labelled.
