Slide 1. The Labeling Theory takes the nurture side of this debate being sometimes also referred to as the Societal Reaction Theory. This is because the theory is ultimately about how social reactions towards an individuals behavior can influence and change their own self concept. I have quoted Tannenbaum here (whom is considered by many to be the grandfather of the Labeling Theory.) I believe this quote is an excellent summary of the Labeling Theory in action. Slide 2. Many sociologists contributed to the formulation of what we now know as 'The Labeling Theory', from its roots laying in Cooley and Meads Symbolic Interactionalism and labeling influences laying within Tannenbaum and Lemert. I have laid some periodically for you to see. Becker formalized the theory being the most influential sociologist in the 1960's with his book the 'Outsiders'. This term is used to describe those to whom a label has been successfully applied. What distinguished Becker was that he focused on the deviance itself and how it became defined as such as opposed to the within itself. Slide 3. Labeling is essentially placing a person into a stereotypical box. Factors that can influence if a person is labelled can include perception of the person whom is viewing the act and the context within which the act is viewed. Chambliss study of the ' Saints and Roughnecks' in the book 'Power, Politics and Crime' is a great example of this. Slide 4. Behavior in itself cannot be deviant; it is only labelled as such by those whom define it. Not all behavior becomes labelled. Primary deviance in reference to the diagram is the first engagement within a deviant act, one which most conformists within society will partake in at some point in their life ,it doesn't necessarily become labelled unless it is publicly labelled on a large scale. Secondary deviance is the Societal response when the behavior becomes labelled and the individuals label takes dominance over any other including those of; mother, friend, nice etc... This master status can then lead to a shift in self perception through the internalization of the label and negative connotations and cause adjustment to their behavior as a means of defense towards the reaction. The next stage in the process is that of a deviant subculture which the individual turns to. This is one which holds similar beliefs and values to themselves now as 'outsiders' as they have been rejected by the main stream of society. This fulfills the last part of the process with the individual living up to their label and fulfilling the prophecy.

1. LABELLING THEORY
Born Bad or Made Bad?
‘‘The community cannot deal with people it cannot define…
the young delinquent becomes bad because he is defined
as bad and because he is not believed if he is good’’
- Frank Tannebaum (1938)
A SOCIETAL REACTION towards the individual

2. Born Bad or Made Bad?
FORMALIZATION OF LABELLING THEORY
Tannenbaum (1938) Dramatization of Evil
Lemert (1951) Societal Reaction
Kituse (1962) Societal reaction by society of the behaviour- stigmatization
More systematically refined with the
work of Becker in the book
‘Outsiders’ (1963)
Symbolic Interactionism
Cooley (1926) The Looking Glass Self
Mead (1934) The Self as a Social Construct
Lemert (1967) Primary & Secondary Deviance
Schur (1971) Conceptualized Stereotyping

3. Born Bad or Made Bad?
WHAT IS LABELLING?

4. Born Bad or Made Bad?
LABELLING PROCESS
Ex Criminal

5. From the Labelling Perspective in answering the question- Are criminals Born Bad or
Made Bad?
They would propose that:
Deviance is socially constructed therefore no behaviour in itself can be inherently
deviant. This perspective therefore takes the nurture side of the nature/nurture
debate. Criminals are defined by societies reaction towards them
TO CONCLUDE
Born Bad or Made Bad?

6. Born Bad or Made Bad?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Becker, H. (1963) Outsiders. New York: Free Press
Tannenbaum, F. (1938) Crime and Community. London : Columbia University Press
Newburn, T. (2013) Criminology.2nd edition. Oxon : Routledge