“The community cannot deal with people whom 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 Tannenbaum
Labeling theory assumes that social control leads to deviance. He focuses on the (linguistic) tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those who are seen as deviant from norms. Deviance (and deviants) are seen as labels to describe behaviour and individuals by particular authority figures in society (e.g. police). Social response in the form of social control can lead to delinquent behavior. Labeling a child as a delinquent has negative connotations in itself (it has second and third order effects). The label of a delinquent may result in the child becoming a delinquent (Tannenbaum, F., 1938).
--- Frank Tannenbaum
Labeling theory assumes that social control leads to deviance. He focuses on the (linguistic) tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those who are seen as deviant from norms. Deviance (and deviants) are seen as labels to describe behaviour and individuals by particular authority figures in society (e.g. police). Social response in the form of social control can lead to delinquent behavior. Labeling a child as a delinquent has negative connotations in itself (it has second and third order effects). The label of a delinquent may result in the child becoming a delinquent (Tannenbaum, F., 1938).