(Topic) – The central issue revolves around how some interactions between individuals and institutions and social groups can lead to criminal behavior. After viewing video case scenario on Prison or Rehab and examining the other text scenarios such as the Stanford Univ. student athlete, Brock Turner, Reginald Wilson (positive) and other socialization theories, bullying theories and other profiles provided:

(Questions) – Please discuss how the labeling process works in primary and secondary deviance and criminal career paths?
What are some of the long term effects and how can some of these be rectified?
Discuss some of the methods, programs, and other methods that may address this issue?
Use the social process theories to help explain and provide some examples.
Discuss how the effect of family relationships, educational setting, and peers can influence criminal behavior for the better or the worst.
What about ‘risky group behavior’?

Social Process Theories

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Social Process Theories

Labeling theory argues that people become criminals when they accept being labeled criminals as their personal identities. Primary and secondary deviance form part of essential concepts in theory alongside prospective, retrospective labeling and stigmatization. Labeling theory stresses that deviance is relative depending on the recipient as individuals do not become deviant by their acts but by the reaction and perception of the action (Bernburg, 2019). For instance, people depending on their response, label the iconic Batman differently; some label him as a defender of social and criminal justice, while some label him as a villain. Primary deviance encompasses many people participating in deviant behavior, while secondary deviance encompasses an individual doing a detrimental act out of deviant behavior, which is negatively and socially labeled. Once negatively labeled, an individual’s self-concept and identity are soiled and defamed, making them susceptible to stigma. This way, individuals are likely to develop criminal behavior as they accept the negative label, socially exclude themselves, and become involved in other deviant/criminal groups or peers, which are risk factors of a criminal path (Bernburg, 2019). For instance, imagine two men (X and Y) who are involved in extramarital affairs, but X is caught. An extramarital relationship is described as primary deviance, as many people are engaged.  X being found is described as secondary deviance, which makes him susceptible to stigma, social exclusion, and being negatively labeled when his behavior is known in society.

Some of the long-term effects include defamed social identity, as they can be labeled criminals, psychopaths, and delinquents. These labels are unpopular and may result in shunning and exclusion of an individual from social groups. The social isolation and exclusion prompt stigma and development of psychological disorders that are detrimental to one’s health and social wellbeing (Restivo & Lanier, 2013). Possible methods and programs to rectify these effects include less formal interventions and models such as community-based focused groups, treatment programs, and increased family bonding to moderate the criminogenic effects (Bernburg, 2019). The presence of family, social groups and peers influence behaviors and actions both negatively and positively. If they have a criminal or substance abuse culture, an individual is likely to be labeled immediately due to the relations despite being different and vice versa.

References

Bernburg, J. G. (2019). LABELING THEORY. In N. H. Marvin D. Krohn, Handbook of Crime and Deviance, Second Edition (pp. 1-22). Springer Nature Switzerland.

Restivo, E., & Lanier, M. M. (2013). Measuring the Contextual Effects and Mitigating Factors of Labeling Theory. Justice Quarterly, 116-141.