Labeling Individuals Term Paper

labeling of individuals is a method by which behaviour considered outside the norm can be categorized. While this may have some benefit to those categorizing the behaviour there is some question over what benefit it has to those being categorized.

Becker made reference to the nature of labeling in reference to deviant behaviour with his famous quote: "deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an offender. The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied; deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label." While he relates it specifically to deviant behaviour it can be broadened to include anyone who is labeled, the point being that it is the labeler and not the labeled that is the focus.

With these people labeled as deviants of some type, whether it be 'gays', 'whores', 'cocaine addicts' or any other group, they are viewed generally as outcasts of society. The 'deviants' are aware of this outcast status and tend to band together, something that only causes them to withdraw further from society.There is little benefit here to the labeled individual.

Foucalt takes this idea even further suggesting that society labels individuals for the purpose of restricting their freedom. Labels are created and given to people to allow others to accept treating certain groups unlike others. For example for gay men labeled simply as homosexual there is little excuse for excluding them from society in any way, but by labeling them as 'perverts', people can accept that they should be excluded from society. The end result is that they are excluded from society, something that only serves to have them labeled further. In this way we can see that labels are something that allows the norm to feel more comfortable, it gives them reason to not feel the need to accept or understand those that are different from them.

For those people being labeled this is not only a negative thing, but something that only compounds their behaviour and excludes them further from society.….....