Becker's Labelling Theory

Becker propounded this theory in 1963. This theory does not deal with the question as to why a person becomes a criminal but tells why the society labels some people as criminals or deviant. Some men who drink heavily are clled alcoholics while others are not. Some men who behaves oddly are committed to hospital while others are not. Thus, according to this theory, what is important in the study of deviance is the social audience, not the individual person. Becker also maintained that what is maintained that what is important in crime is not the act the individual but the reaction of the society in terms of rules and sanctions. Becker maintains that deviance is not the quality of the act a person commits but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to offenders. The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so label. According to Becker, whether or not labeling occurs depends upon the time when the act is committed, who commits the act, who is the victim and the consequences of the act. Thus, whether a given act is deviant or not depends in part on the nature of the act and in part on what other people do about it. Becker suggests that a distinction be made between rule-breaking behavior and deviance. Deviance is not a quality that lies in the behavior itself, but in the interaction between the person who commits an act and those who respond to it. Becker has also suggested that certain types of groups are more likely to be labeled deviant than others. For an example, groups that do not have political power and, therefore, cannot put pressure on the officials for not enforcing the law, groups which are seen to threaten the persons in power, and groups which have low social status. Criticism against labeling theory is that it gives a good logic but does not explain the cause of crime. It entirely avoids the question of causes of crime.

Reckless' Theory of Self-Concept and Containment

Walter Reckless (1967) has said that the important question that must be answered in explaining criminal behavior is why, given the alternative of law-abiding and law-violating behavior, do some people turn to one or the other behavior. He advocates that the self concept is the key factor in explaining the choice among alternatives of behavior. A favorable self-concept directs indirect an individual toward law-abiding behavior, and an unfavorable self-concept directs him towards delinquent behavior. Reckless has further said that there are two important delinquent behaviors. Reckless has further said that there are two important aspects of control, inner control and outer control, and that depending upon the balance of these control systems, the individual can take either a deviant or a conformist route. His assumption is that strong inner and reinforcing outer containment constitutes isolation against normative deviancy, that is, violation of the socio-legal conduct norms. The evaluation of this theory has pointed out that though this is the only research by sociologists in the area of delinquency which handles variables of personality and self, nevertheless the measure of self concept has been questioned and the lack of control groups noted.

 

References

Becker, Howard S, Social Problems: A Modern Approach, John Wiley & Sons, Inc; New York, 1966.

Cloward, Richard and Ohlin, Liyod, E; Delinquency and Opportunity: A Theory of Delinquent Gangs, The Free Press, Glencoe, Illinois, 1960.

Cohen, Albert, Delinquent Boys: The Culture of the Gang' The Free Press, Glencoe, Illinois, 1960.

Merton, Robert K; Social Theory and Social Structure , The Free Press, Glencoe, Illinois, 1957.

Reckless, Walter, G, Handbook of Practical Suggestions for the Treatment of Adult and Juvenile Offenders, Government of India, 1956.

Sutherland, Edwin H; Principles of Criminology. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott, 1939.