Labeling theory view deviance from symbolic interaction and conflict perspective. Theory suggest that, people tend to act and behave as they are labeled by other people. When an individual in the society is labelled as criminal, it compels him to commit more crimes. The labeled individual might become more offensive towards the people who labeled him as criminal. Labeling an individual for deviant behavior has serious and negative repercussion for that person.
The assumption behind the theory is that, in an essence no action can be considered as criminal. Criminal behavior is defined by those people who are in power and interpreted by the law enforcement agencies and courts. To understand the concept clearly it is important to know why some people are labeled as criminal and other are not. The legislature, judiciary and law enforcement agencies are the source of tagging people as criminal. These institution make the categories of deviance to fortify the power structure of society.
The rules for explaining the behavior as deviant or non-deviant behavior are formulated by the powerful people of the society. Such as ethnic majority impose and frame rules for minorities, rich for poor, older for younger and men for women. The dominant group of the society develop and impose the rules on subordinate groups and decides whether the behavior is deviant or not.
About 500 years ago the dominant and powerful institution in the west was church. The minister of the church decided which behavior is deviant and which is not. If a person was found drunk he would be considered as sinner and out casted by the minister of the church. But with the passage of time other institution came in to power and molded some rules of deviant behavior. Law enforcement agencies considered public drinking as criminal behavior and label the drunk trouble maker as criminal. Since late 19th century pharmaceutical companies and doctor became powerful and labeled the heavy drinking as a disease. The crimes committed by heavily drunk person like rape, child abuse and theft are considered as mental illness.
However, the laws for upper class and lower class are still different. If a rich lady is caught stealing in a store is treated for obsessive compulsive disorder. Whereas if same thing happen with lower class lady she will be arrested for theft and labeled as thief and criminal. If upper-class boy vandalize the property of school is medicated for hyperactivity. On the other hand, lower-class boy will be put in to jail for his outburst.
Those who obtain label for their deviant behavior as sick or mentally ill gets the sympathy for their condition. Those who secure the label of criminal for same action will be despised by the people and punished for their deviance. People in power often receive the label of sick or ill for their deviant behavior.
