Labeling theory, in criminology, a theory stemming from a sociological perspective known as ‘symbolic interactionism,’ a school of thought based on the ideas of George Herbert Mead, …

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 …

Oct 13, 2025 · Labeling perspective (or labeling theory) is an important sociological approach that looks at how society defines certain people and behavious as “normal” or “deviant”, and how …

Apr 29, 2025 · Explore labeling theory in sociology—what it means, how it works, and examples of how societal labels influence identity, behavior, and deviance.

Labeling theory is a sociological and criminological theory that says that a strong, negative societal reaction to an individual's wrongdoing can lead the individual to become more deviant.

May 6, 2025 · Labeling Theory is one of the foundational perspectives in sociology and criminology that examines how the labels assigned to individuals—especially those engaged …

Labeling theory is defined as the concept that deviance is not inherent to an act but is a consequence of the societal application of rules and sanctions to individuals labeled as …

Sociologist Howard Becker is credited with the most influential formulation of labeling theory, which appears in his book Outsiders (1973). According to Becker, deviance is not an intrinsic …

Sep 7, 2024 · Labeling theory posits that our identities and behaviors are shaped by how others label us and interact with us based on the label applied.

Aug 17, 2025 · Labeling theory argues that deviance and criminality are not inherent qualities of an act itself, but rather are social constructs created by society’s reaction to and labeling of …