Labeling Theory

1
Labeling Theory

• Review of Classic Labeling
• Reflected Appraisals
• Reintegrative Shaming

2
The Classic Labeling Process

• Formal Sanctions
• Degradation ceremony
• Stigmatizing

• Change in Self-Concept
• looking glass self
• hard to resist formal label

• Primary Deviance
• Most engage in this
• Typically sporadic, not serious

• Secondary Deviance
• Caused by new self-image as criminal or deviant

3
Criticisms of Labeling

• 1. Typically history of antisocial behavior prior
  to formal labeling
• Society doesnt identify, tag, and sanction
  individuals as deviant in a vacuum.
• 2. Controlling initial levels of deviance, formal
  sanctions have little (no) effect.
• 3. No negotiation, obsession with formal
  sanctions...

4
Matsueda (1992)

• Reflected Appraisals, Parental Labeling, and
  Delinquency
• Move from formal to informal labels (appraisals)
• Back to symbolic interactionism roots
• Much more complex, rich
• Allows early deviance to play a role
• Difference between actual appraisals, reflected
  appraisals, and self-appraisals

5
Formation of the self

• Transactions
• Interactions between 2 or more individuals
• Role-taking appraising from others shoes
• The situation
• Oneself in the situation
• Possible lines of action

6
Role-taking as socialization

• Early socialization
• Take the role of significant others who are
  present in situations
• Later socialization
• Take the role of generalized other, or the
  whole social group

7
Elements of the self

• How others actually see you
• Actual Appraisals
• How you perceive the way others see you
• Reflected Appraisals
• How you see yourself
• Self-Appraisals

8
Matsuedas Model

• Initial Behaviors
• Reflected Appraisals
• of Others
• Behavior
• Actual Appraisal
• by Others

9
John Braithwaite

• Austrailian Criminologist
• Crime, Shame, and Reintegration
• Pretty complex theory (Not parsimonious)
• BUT, Central concepts are not that complex
• Reintegrative Shaming vs. Stigmatization
• Interdependency
• Communitarianism

10
What is shaming?

• Behaviors (from others) that induce guilt, shame
• snide comment, verbal confrontations
• stocks/pillory, the scarlet letter
• Naval tradition of captains mask
• In Western society, shaming has become uncoupled
  from formal punishment
• Offenders privately sent away to warehouses by
  corrections or court officials

11
Braithwaite II

• Interdependency
• attachment with social others (indirect control
  at micro level)
• Communitarianism
• similar to collective efficacy (control at
  macro)
• In communities that lack collective efficacy, and
  among people who are less bonded, stigmatizing
  punishment is likely.

12
Types of Shaming

• Reintegrative
• Love the sinner, hate the sin
• Spank the child, but tell them that you still
  love them
• Stigmatizing
• no effort made to reconcile the offender with the
  community
• offender as outcast, criminal as master status
• degradation ceremonies not followed by ceremonies
  to decertify deviance

13
Examples of Shaming

• Stigmatizing
• United States
• Court, prison, etc. (remove and shun from
  community)
• Reintegrative
• Japan
• Ceremonies to shame and welcome back

14
The Model
Interdependency
Communitarianism

• Type of Punishment
• Shaming
• Stigmatizing

Legitimate Opportunities Criminal Subculture
High Crime Rates
15
Evidence for Reintegrative Shameing?

• Japan vs. U.S. crime rates
• Since WWII, Japan U.S.(others)
• Why?
• High Interdependency and Communitarianism
• Reintegrative Shaming emphasized
• Community has duty to shame and welcome back
  transgressors

16
Implications from Braithwaite?

• Restorative Justice
• Victim/Offender mediation
• Emphasis on repairing harm
• Build up community, victims, offender
• Shaming Conferences