Labeling Theory Essay

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Labeling Theory and Deviance Reflection Paper By Rishi Parbhakar Labeling theory, developed by Howard Becker is the idea that deviance is a consequence of external judgments, or labels, which both modify the individual’s self-concept and change the way others respond to the labeled person. In celebrity rehab, all are portrayed as drug addicts and are treated as such in the rehab setting even if they do not think they truly are an addict. The labeling theory is a concept that is also illustrated in my life on a frequent basis. With my ex-girlfriend knowing the full extent of my addiction, everything I did was a result of that label. If I didn’t live up to her standards in any facet of our relationship than it was a direct result of my drug addiction, even if her standards were unrealistic for even the most normal of people. In most cases it was because of my addiction, but the label had a very strong effect on how she perceived me. In the case of my parents, no matter what went wrong or was missing in the house, it was my fault. I became the scapegoat for every issue because of my status of being the junkie son. The last example of the labeling theory has to do with a girl I met last year that I really connected with. After putting in the groundwork for a successful relationship, I told her I was a recovering heroin addict. This ruined all that we had built. Her uncle was an addict and chose drugs over her family and caused her a lot of pain. She projected that on me and did not want to even get involved as a result of that. I don’t blame her. This shows the stigma of the label. Stigma is any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group’s identity. My self-concept was based on the “looking glass self” concept by Charles Horton Cooley that states that the notion that the self develops through our perception of others’ evaluations

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