Labeling theory ( teoria sosiaalisesta nimittelystä ). ( The text from the net, numbers added by JL ) Labeling theory is closely related to interactionist and social construction theories. Labeling theory was developed by sociologists during the 1960's. Howard Saul Becker's book entitled Outsiders was extremely influential in the development of this theory and its rise to popularity. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not inherent to an act, but instead focuses on the tendency of 1 majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from standard cultural norms. The theory is concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or 2 classify them, and is associated with the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. The theory was prominent during the 1960s and 1970s, and some modified versions of the theory have developed and are still currently popular. Unwanted descriptors or categorizations including terms related to deviance,disability or a diagnosis of mental illness may be rejected on the basis that they are merely "labels", often with attempts to adopt a more constructive language in its place. Theoretical basis Labeling theory had its origins in Suicide, a book by French sociologist Émile Durkheim. He found that crime is not so much a violation of a penal code as it is an act that outrages society. He was the first to suggest that deviant labeling satisfies that function and satisfies 3 society's need to control the behavior. As a contributor to American Pragmatism and later a member of the Chicago School, George Herbert Mead posited that the self is socially constructed and reconstructed through the interactions which each person has with the community. The labeling theory suggests that people obtain labels from how 4 others view their tendencies or behaviors. Each individual 5 is aware of how they are judged by others because he or she has attempted many different roles and functions in social interactions and has been able to gauge the reactions of those present. This theoretically builds a subjective conception of the 6 self, but as others intrude into the reality of that individual's life, this represents objective data which may require a re-evaluation of that conception depending on the authoritativeness of the others' judgment. Family and friends may judge differently from random strangers. More socially representative individuals such as police officers or judges may be able to make more globally 7 respected judgments. If deviance is a failure to conform to the rules observed by most of the group, the reaction of the group is to label the person as having offended against their social or moral norms of behavior. This is the 8 power of the group: to designate breaches of their rules as deviant and to treat the person differently depending on the seriousness of the breach. The more differential the treatment, the more the individual's 9 self-image is affected. Labeling theory concerns itself mostly not with the normal roles that define our lives, but with those very special roles that society provides for deviant behavior, called deviant roles, stigmatic roles, or 10 social stigma. A social role is a set of expectations we have about a behavior. Social roles are necessary for the organization and functioning of any society or group. We expect the postman, for example, to adhere to certain fixed rules about how he does his job. "Deviance" for a sociologist does not mean morally wrong, but rather behavior that is condemned by society. Deviant behavior can include both criminal and non-criminal activities. .......................... LET`S DISCUSS PERSONALLY MODIFIED ITEMS BELOW; FOCUSE ON THE CHOSEN POINTS. A B C 1. Labeling theory: The surrounding actively gives anyone negative labels ( nimilappu) saying what he/ she is? 2. Our community classifies us by different labels and roles which exist ready-made for suitable persons. 3. We are actively controlled by society and put into its divisions ( osasto ). 4. Stigmas ( polttomerkki ) given to us show how other people think about their own behavior. 5. Is it possible to get rid ( vapautua ) of any bad stigma given to anyone? ("islamistic", "nerdy", "whore","criminal", "mad" )? 6. So, in everybody`s negative self there are a lot of other people`s negative selves, too? 7. What are the results if a child gets lots of negative stigmas into his/her mind? 8. Everybody as a little child is a potential victim ( uhri) before his/ her primary group`s power/ violance! 9. The first question of fate is: How well does the child internalize (sisäistää) any bad roles given to him/her? 9. A. The second question of fate is: Does anyone begin to perform ( esittää ) bad roles the group offers to him/ her? 10. Do we behave tooth and nail so that we are not labeled with ugly stigmas on us?