#labelingtheory

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As many know, this is Chris Brown. Chris became part of the music industry when he was 13 years old. Many people seen him as a sweet, innocent, talented, goofy artist until the incident with Rihanna happened. After the news spread about their fight everyone seen him as bad guy. His labels quickly changed to “woman beater” ,“short temper”, “bad artist”, simply someone you didn't want to support or be around. Chris then started to act out and get into loads of trouble. He said himself the labels people gave him affected him so much he started to believe they were true. 

A 15 year old boy is caught taking drugs and is labelled a deviant by his/her immediate social group when they find out. His parents find out and reinforce the deviant label by remonstrating with their son about what they see as his deviant behaviour. His parents tell his school. His teachers search his bag on a random search and find drugs. He is permanently excluded from school and the police are informed. He is arrested and cautioned.  He cannot find another school in time to sit his GCSE exams and therefore can only find low paid work. He steals from the shop that employs him in order to buy the drugs that give him an escape from the drudgery of everyday life. The shop finds out and he is sacked and the police are informed. He is arrested and charged with theft. He now has a criminal record. He cannot get another job as he has to declare his criminal record to prospective employers. He steals from parents to get some money. His parents throw him out of the house. He lives with friends in a flat. The police raid the flat one day as they see known drug takers entering the flat. He is arrested, charged and imprisoned on drug related offences. He begins taking hard drugs in prison. Once released, he turned to crime to finance his life. He takes an overdose of heroin that has been cut with impure chemicals and dies at the age of 21. This all happens because the idea of him being labeled as a “drug user” or “law breaker” stuck with him up until he took his last breath. 

Labeling theory is often used in the study of criminology to determine why certain individuals tend to deviate from the norms. This identified that criminal aspect behind labeling theory as portraying criminality as a product of society’s reaction to the individual and that once any one person is convicted of a crime, they automatically acquire a criminal identity for any future actions they will have.  Therefore, the idea of labeling theory can negatively affect a person for life.

Society Vs. Me

On the left is a picture of a guy named, Thomas Haynesworth, who served 27 years for several rapes on white women he did not commit. On the right is the guy who actually did commit the crime. Haynesworth was chosen because for one he was a black male, and he was identified by one of the victims while going to the grocery store to pick up items for his mother. There are many different characteristic that stand out for each male, specifically height. All women noticed their attacker was tall, 5′10 to be exact. One victim who stood 5′8 said the attacker was taller than her, Haynesworth was only 5′6. Why was he chosen when they all knew that his height was distinctly different than what they remember? Race plays a huge role. This case is a prime example of the labeling theory. 

As a #sociology major, I learned about countless theories, most of which are lost on me now. But there is one that stood out and which I still reference regularly today.⠀ ⠀ #LabelingTheory suggests that what we become is determined or influenced by the characteristics or labels that others prescribe to us. Or, you become what people call you. The external self-fulfilling prophecy, if you will.⠀ ⠀ This school of thought, brought to you by Dewey, et al, was originally applied to the idea that if you label a group of people (e.g. black boys, children of poor parents, etc) as criminals early in life, then all they will see themselves as is a criminal and will therefore lead a life of crime.⠀ ⠀ Conversely, it can be asserted that if a child is prescribed a positive characteristic, the outcome of their life is more likely to reflect that outcome.⠀ ⠀ #Tennis phenom @cocogauff is a prime example of the latter usage of Labeling Theory. In a recent interview, when asked if she ever imagined she would be at @wimbledon playing her role models, she said her father once told her that she was a champion and that ever since he called her that, she believed it. #Gauff's believe surely lead her to make choices that increased the likelihood that she would become a champion and she is well on her way to doing just that.⠀ ⠀ Another example of Labeling Theory working for good is the fact that since I was very little, people have called me Dr. Adkins. Now, whether this pseudo-title was given to me in jest or because people really believed I should pursue a doctoral degree some day, I took this label to heart.⠀ ⠀ Of course, my parents thought I was a genius, but this positive label was reiterated by my undergrad professors & the bow tie-clad Muslim brothers selling newspapers outside of the 5 Points MARTA station.⠀ ⠀ Although these are just words, words are powerful. Make sure the words you speak to others & yourself are positive & motivating these week!⠀ ⠀ [📸 Photo Credit: @chicagosuntimes]⠀ ⠀ [Image Description: 15-year-old, black, female tennis player Cori "Coco" Gauff, celebrating at Wimbledon.] ⠀ ⠀ #MondayMotivation #Wimbledon #Criminology #Theory #DrAdkins #Positivity https://www.instagram.com/p/BzqHjy7g8c9/?igshid=34u9xjav0bql