Okanagan College SOCI 270 Theory Paper: Labeling Theory and Society

This sociology paper delves into labeling theory, examining its origins, development, and application to understanding deviance. The paper begins with an introduction to social theory and the concept of deviance, differentiating between formal and informal deviance. It then focuses on labeling theory, discussing how it influences self-identity and behavior, and its connections to stereotyping and self-fulfilling prophecy. The paper traces the theory's evolution, highlighting key figures like Howard Becker and Alfred Kinsey, and its application to various social issues, including homosexuality and mental illness. The discussion further explores how labeling theory is relevant in contemporary society, especially in relation to stigmatic roles and deviant behavior. The paper concludes by emphasizing that deviance is context-dependent and that labeling theory provides a valuable framework for understanding it. Recommendations are provided to help people understand societal rules, goals, and deviance to avoid unacceptable behaviors. The paper follows the SOCI 270 course guidelines set by Okanagan College, emphasizing the importance of understanding the course material.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY 1
Sociology
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Course Code and Section
Professor’s Name

SOCIOLOGY 2
Introduction
The social theory refers to the arguments, ideas, hypothesis, and thoughts explain the
meaning of various speculations, especially about human and societies. Social theories discuss
how structures such as societies were formed and developed. Besides, it focuses on various
norms existing in society and they affect the living state of the community and people. In this
theory paper, I will focus on labeling theory as one of the social theories in my discussion. I will
use this theory to discuss how the theory is important in understanding the deviance. In the
sociology perspective, deviance refers to the action or the behavior codes that violate the social
norms (Chan, 2010). This involves formal deviance and informal deviance. In the case of the
formal deviance, this describes the deviance that violates the rules set in the society regarding
crime. The informal deviance is the violation of the unwritten society laws required in society. In
my discussion, I will focus on single social theory, labeling theory. Labeling theory is the social
theory that describes the self-identity and behavior of the people. According to this theory, the
behavior of people is influenced by their class level. This theory is associated with the concept of
stereotyping and self-fulfilling prophecy.
How this theory changed over time
The theory was very prominent during the 1960s and 1970s. The theory was developed
from those years through modification stages up to the current state. It is very closely related to
the symbolic interaction and social construction frameworks. It was developed by sociologists
from the years the 1960s (Creese, 2013). The book of Haward Saul Becker was one of the key
influential for the development of this theory. It led to an increase in the book's popularity. The
theory involved the analysis of the false accusations and the witch hunts. It majorly involved the
identification of the deviants in the social setting. It is based on the foundation of primary and

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secondary labels. The theory also discusses more the overt and converts characteristics of the
deviance since the 1960s to date.
From the beginning, the Alfred Kinsey advocated fro the labeling theory that
corresponded to homosexuality. This separated this theory from the role of homosexuals and
such acts done by people. It brought a clear understanding of the scenario whereby the male
doing the feminine things are gay. It also dealt with the mentally ill as well as supported by
Thomas J. Scheff (Creese, 2013). The theory does not concern with the criminal but the acts that
are not accepted in the social setting because they are mental disorders. The theory was
originated from suicide from the french book by Emile Durkheim. His speculations according to
this theory found that crime is not much violation of the pedal code but an act of outranging
society (Khmelevsky, Govorov & Burge, 2009). This sociologist was the first one to bring the
idea that deviant labeling helps in satisfying the function of social and controlling behavior.
People are judged based on their behaviors and tendencies within the society. They are also
judged according to how they obey the rulles of the society. This means that people have an idea
of how other people judge them. This is determined by different roles played by the same
individual in social interactions. The theory builds the theoretical subjective about people
(Creese, 2013).
Today the theory is applied to deviance through understanding today’s context of society.
It has been found that in modern society, the Labeling theory concerns more about itself but not
the normal roles that define the lives of people in society. But in today's setting, the theory has
very special roles in deviant behavior (Khmelevsky, Govorov & Burge, 2009). It takes part in the
stigmatic roles in society. This includes adherence to certain rules set in job places. According to
the sociologists, labeling is not an immoral thing but just something not accepted in one society.

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This means one behavior can be unacceptable in one society but acceptable in another one.
Through this, it is possible to understand that nowadays, deviant behavior includes both non-
criminal offenses and criminal ones. It has been found that now day affect different perspectives
allocated to different groups in society.
Conclusion
The theory paper has discussed the process by which the labeling theory was developed
from the 1960s to 1970s. The discussion has introduced some of the sociologists who contributed
to the development of the labeling theory in the field of sociology. The whole idea in the
discussion was an evaluation of how labeling theory has contributed to the understanding of
deviance in society. Through the use of this theory, we have been able to notice that deviance is
not a serious offense but it depends on people within the society. Depending on the perspectives
of the people in society it can be of false accusations. This is because an unacceptable vice from
one community can be acceptable in another society. It has been found that labeling theory is
used even today for a better understanding of the deviance. It has discussed that through labeling
theory, people get to know their rights and what they are supposed to do. The society is able to
differentiate deviance from criminal offenses. It has been discussed that labeling should not be
considered as the crime within the society but something which is not acceptable in that partcular
society. It all depends on social beliefs and understanding of the people on behaviors acceptable
and allowed in the society.
Recommendations
People should be able to understand their societal set rules and policies for them to avoid
doing what is not accepted in society.

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People should also have a clear picture of their goals in society for them to understand
what they are supposed to do to avoid colliding with social authority.
Nowadays, people should be able to identify their societal deviance so that they can be
able to differentiate them with criminal offenses.
There should be set rules and strategies following each society to guide members of the
community on how to interact with others without committing some of the unacceptable
behavior.

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References
Chan, T. (2010). Experiences and Implications of Diagnosis and Labeling for Individuals with
Mental Illness (Doctoral dissertation, Okanagan College).
Creese, G. (2013). The Sociology of British Columbia. BC Studies: The British Columbian
Quarterly, (100), 21-42.
Khmelevsky, Y., Govorov, M., & Burge, L. (2009, May). Okanagan College. Labeling theory
and community psychiatry: The impact of psychiatric sociology on ideology and practice
in American psychiatry. Psychiatry, 34(4), 378-390.