Labeling Theory Research Paper

Words: 320
Pages: 2

People's behaviors are shaped by social labels. A person will become a criminal when society labels that person as a "criminal". Labeling theory also considers why society is more likely to label certain person as criminal and not others. Much of labeling theory comes from the general sociological perspective known as symbolic interaction theory. This theory states that reality is to a large degree defined by shared social symbols. When enough people agree that a certain idea is true then it "becomes" true and is understood as real. If one person commits a crime and is defined a criminal then society may react to that person as a criminal. This will in turn require them to act as a criminal. On the other hand if another person commits the same