Labelling theory and its theorists focus on the groupings and/or those who were considered to be legal and labelled thus by society. Labelling theorists examined the various interactions between your 'legal' groups and people and the conformist population. Labeling theory was very popular in the 1960s and early 1970s, but then fell into decline-partly as a result of the merged results of empirical research. This article will go on showing the roots of labelling theory, the idea itself and can show its strengths and weaknesses using various case-studies and good examples.
Tannenbaum (1938) is widely regarded as the first labelling theorist. His main concept was the 'dramatization of evil'. He stated that if one is described as being a unlawful then he automatically becomes one. Erwin Lamert (1951) founded the "societal Reaction" theory.
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