Deviant behavior Essay

The labeling scheme and the cordial control surmisal are two explanations behind the sentiment of deviance. The labeling theory argues that nightspot itself creates deviance by classifying certain behaviors or commonwealth as deviant. The social control theory, meanwhile, believes that deviance is a result of the failure of social institutions to follow up societal norms. Labeling and Social Control Theories both culture has norms or standards that distinguish acceptable from unacceptable behavior.Actions or behaviors that go against heathenish norms are referred to as deviance. To understand wherefore some individuals resort to deviance, sociologists and criminologists first of all analyse how norms are created, modified and enforced. The labeling theory and the social control theory are scantily two of the explanations these experts have come up with regarding the nature of deviance. Labeling Theory The labeling theory argues that people assume deviant roles in fello wship.No conduct or individual is inherently deviant society itself creates deviance by classifying certain behaviors or people as deviant. Those who observe deviant manners reach deviant identities by internalizing deviant labels that society imposes on them. Instead of finding the bloodline cause of deviance, society will portion it to particular behaviors or people (Kontos and Brotherton, 2008). Prop iodinnts of the labeling theory claim that the social group is the one responsible for deviance. It creates norms in order to fall apart conventional people from deviants.Norms, however, are evil in the sense that it does not tell the difference between rule ledgeman or rule-breaking behavior and deviants or deviant behavior. A individual is dismissed as deviant regardless of whether or not his or her actions actually violated any(prenominal) norm (Hamlin, n. d. ). The Stages of Labeling According to the American sociologist Howard Becker, a person undergoes three fix ups when he is transform from organism regarded as normal to being recognized and designate as deviant.The first stage is the initial public labeling or the informal operation of labeling that eventually becomes an functionary definition of a person as deviant. Examples of this are the shoplifter who is tried in court and is sent to prison as a shepherds crook and the drunk whom the medico or the psychiatrist diagnoses as an alcoholic. The process of labeling begins with just the doctor, psychiatrist and judge, and then eventually spreads to the entire community (Slattery, 2003).The second stage involves the official labels decree of all the other statuses and symbols that a person previously had. Society will complete(a) ties with this individual and deny him or her opportunities for advancement. The get down who becomes an alcoholic, for instance, ends up being divorced by his wife and abandoned by his children. The ex-convict, meanwhile, is inefficient to buy a house or ge t a job because of his criminal record (Slattery, 2003). The third stage is characterized by the label severely damaging the vanity of the person involved.The self-fulfilling prophecy begins to take line he or she whitethorn snuff it up to the deviant label that society imposed on him or her by assuming a deviant lifestyle. He or she may also lose from conventional society by pursuit support and status from other deviants who plowshare similar lifestyles. An occasional dose user, for instance, may live up to his reputation as a junkie by spill to underground bars and clubs frequented by drug addicts. The juvenile delinquent, on the other hand, may later become a nonrecreational criminal, in accordance to what society labeled him (Slattery, 2003).