Which theory emphasizes that if an individual is labeled as deviant, they may internalize that label and continue to engage in deviance?

Which theory emphasizes that if an individual is labeled as deviant, they may internalize that label and continue to engage in deviance?

• A. Labeling Theory
• B. Neutralization Theory
• C. The Laws of Imitation
• D. Social Bond Theory

Answer: (A)

Labeling theory centers on how society’s reactions to a person can shape that person’s self-view and behavior. When someone is labeled as deviant, they may start to see that label as part of who they are. That internalized identity can lead them to continue deviant behavior, a process known as secondary deviance and often tied to a self-fulfilling prophecy. This idea explains why a label can have lasting effects beyond the initial act. The other theories don’t focus on this labeling-and-identity mechanism. Neutralization Theory explains how people justify deviance to themselves, but not how a label itself becomes a part of their self-concept. The Laws of Imitation describes how behavior spreads through imitation, not how labels shape identity. Social Bond Theory emphasizes the role of social connections in preventing deviance, rather than how labeling can propel continued offending.

Labeling theory centers on how society’s reactions to a person can shape that person’s self-view and behavior. When someone is labeled as deviant, they may start to see that label as part of who they are. That internalized identity can lead them to continue deviant behavior, a process known as secondary deviance and often tied to a self-fulfilling prophecy. This idea explains why a label can have lasting effects beyond the initial act.

The other theories don’t focus on this labeling-and-identity mechanism. Neutralization Theory explains how people justify deviance to themselves, but not how a label itself becomes a part of their self-concept. The Laws of Imitation describes how behavior spreads through imitation, not how labels shape identity. Social Bond Theory emphasizes the role of social connections in preventing deviance, rather than how labeling can propel continued offending.