The Transformation of an Act into an Identity
What happens if a young person who shoplifts once is labeled as a “delinquent”? According to labeling theory, the focus is shifted from the initial act to what transpires once others become aware of it. An everyday argument in the classroom could be seen by a teacher as disobedience. A neighbor could be less inclined to provide the adolescent with summer employment. Even when subsequent behavior is unrelated to the first occurrence, the label may start to influence how people understand it.
How Labels Can Influence Future Conduct
Criminologists make a distinction between initial rule-breaking, or primary deviance, and subsequent behavior that may arise in reaction to a label. Think about a teen who, following a referral from a juvenile court, goes back to school. They may start to see less reasons to invest in school or pursue acceptance there if classmates shun them and teachers stop considering them for leadership positions. Depending on how others react, what chances are still available, and how the adolescent perceives their own behavior, the label may or may not have an impact on future behavior.
Who Gets Labeled?
If two students are discovered fighting, they may be subject to different penalties. While one incident may result in a conference in the principal’s office, another may result in a police referral. Labeling theory urges us to consider how discretion, past reputation, and presumptions about each student affect those decisions, even though different situations may warrant different answers. Officials’ interpretations of subsequent instances may change if a written record is in place. Because of this, the choice of when to apply a label is crucial in and of itself.
Responsibility Without a Persistent Stigma
Someone can be held accountable by a school or juvenile justice organization while still having space to regain the trust of others. A diversion or restorative justice program, when appropriate, can provide a young person with an organized means of admitting wrongdoing, making amends, and reestablishing contact with school or community resources. Returning the item, fixing the damage to the store, and developing a strategy to stop future incidents are some possible responses in the shoplifting scenario. According to labeling theory, we should evaluate that answer based on what happens after the immediate instance is resolved, such as if it gives the young person practical chances to go on.
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