NEGATIVE LABELS - PASSAGEWAYS AND PRISONS

• NCJ Number: 9198
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 33-40
• Author(s): W D PAYNE
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AN APPROACH TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR WHICH PROPOSES THAT DEVIANT ROLES ARE CREATED AND MAINTAINED THROUGH THE IMPOSITION OF NEGATIVE LABELS.

Abstract

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT NEGATIVE LABELS CREATE A HIGHLY VISIBLE DEVIANT IDENTITY, DAMAGING SELF-CONCEPTS, AND SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS THAT MAY TEND TO PERPETUATE AND INTENSIFY THE VERY BEHAVIOR OBJECTED TO. NEGATIVE LABELS ARE STEREOTYPES THAT MAY BECOME OVERGENERALIZED AND INACCURATE. THE PROBLEMS THEY CREATE FOR THE DEVIANT MAY CHANNEL HIM INTO NEW FORMS OF DEVIANCE. THEY MAY ALSO DIRECT ACTION BY SOCIETY WHICH INSURES THE ACCURACY AND PERPETUATION OF THE LABEL. FINALLY, PUNISHING LABELS OFTEN DRIVE PEOPLE INTO DEVIANT COMMUNITIES AND SUBCULTURES THAT SUPPORT THEIR MEMBERS IN THEIR DEVIANT ROLES AND INSULATE THEM FROM CHANGE. THE AUTHOR FEELS THAT BY UNDERSTANDING THE UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE LABELS, SOCIETY WILL BE ABLE TO EXERCISE MORE DISCRETION IN THEIR USE. (AUTHOR MODIFIED)