... paper will focus on the societal reaction perspective to crime and deviance as developed in the works of Edwin Lemert, Howard S. Becker, and John Kitsuse. In addition to highlighting their key arguments, their works will be compared and contrasted for ... such as seeking out a social group which supports the new image. (Lemert, 1951) Howard S. Becker built on the work of Lemert and was especially influenced by the Chicago School of Criminology. Becker looked at deviance as an interpretation of meaning as seen by the reactors who give the title ... reactors will search, and redefine even...

• Word Count: 1737
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Labelling Theory There are many views regarding human deviance, one of such is seemed by Howard S. Becker as an "outside" behaviour. He shared the same view of deviance with a group of humanistic sociologists such ... as a labelling theory or should have referred as symbolic interaction theory (which was known generally to analyze the social psychology of human behaviour) Becker's interpretation of deviance is as an "outsider", who does not conform to the conventionalist norms . In order to view the labelling theory in ... and morality. Examples of labellers are psychiatrist, judges, police...

• Word Count: 1686
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... groups. For example, sociologist Erving Goffman applies the concept of stigma, or more commonly, labeling; stating that ones behavior and actions deemed deviant are applied by others (Turner, 1996). Howard Becker's definition seems to be commonly accepted as an adequate description of this concept, asserting that deviance is whatever a social audience reacts against or labels as deviant. However, another sociologist, Erdwin ... were still deviant. Derrick has been stigmatized at an early age due to label. The labeling theory is one way to explain how deviance is socially constructed. Ac...

• Word Count: 2437
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... past thirty years. "Deviance is not a quality of the act... The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied; deviant behaviour is behaviour people so label". (Howard Becker, "The Outsiders", 1963) From this perspective, the reactions of those labelled and those who label are of importance. In studying Deviance from an interactionist angle, sociologists are interested in ... how such individuals cope with this imposed label, do they ignore the label or do they accept it and internalise the label and stigma surrounding their actions? (Gove, 1975) Becker's approach has i...

• Word Count: 2405
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate