Summarize labeling theory and then consider its effectiveness in addressing youth crime and anti-social behavior in contemporary British society. Labeling theory is the theory of how the application of a label to an individual affects their lifestyle and how the social reaction to this label affects the individual."...social groups create deviance by establishing rules the infringement of which creates deviance and by applying such roles to particular people and labeling them as outsiders. From this point of view, deviance is not a quality of the act that the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules. and sanctions on an 'offender'. The deviant is the one to whom the label has been successfully applied. Deviant behavior is the behavior that people label in this way." Becker (1963) Becker theorized that the term "deviant" is applied when an actor (individual) violates the customs and values ​​created by society. The deviant label is usually applied by an authority figure or high social status and causes a negative social reaction. The same reaction that can be associated with an act of violation of the law. Society struggles to distinguish between "crime" and "deviance". The two words are sometimes used interchangeably. Crime is an act that breaks "criminal law"; resulting in formal punishment, while deviance is simply an act perceived as "wrong". The issue of social power cannot be separated from a definition of deviance, some groups in society may criminalize the actions of another group using their influence on legislators. A Marxist would say that laws are decided by the State, which represents the ruling class. One could say that the ruling class has set the definition of deviance to maintain power, w...... middle of paper... a new behavior that makes the original false conception "true". This specious validity of self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error. Because the prophet will cite the actual course of events as proof that he was right all along. "(Merton 1968: 477) A functionalist such as Durkheim (1858-1917) believed that deviance was an essential part of a functional society, and that by using the term deviant we were creating our own moral boundaries. Society's reaction to an individual who crosses these moral boundaries forces people to unite, sharing the collective vision of good and evil. Consensus on these boundaries promotes self-control and discipline within society. Durkheim theorized that the basis of social order was faith shared in norms and values. The absence of social order would result in anomie.