Labeling Theory, Deviance, Social Construction, Symbolic Interactionism, Moral Entrepreneurship
Additional Information
Howard S. Becker (1928–2023) was an American sociologist whose work fundamentally shaped the sociology of deviance and qualitative research methods. A leading figure in the development of labeling theory, Becker emphasized the role of societal reactions in defining deviance. His seminal book Outsiders (1963) examined how deviant identities are socially constructed, challenging essentialist views of criminality. Beyond criminology, Becker made significant contributions to the sociology of art, education, and professions, applying a symbolic interactionist perspective throughout his career.
Becker’s approach highlighted the importance of social context, interpretation, and interaction in understanding deviance. His work on labeling theory remains foundational in criminology and sociology, influencing research on stigmatization, moral entrepreneurship, and subcultures.
Video
This video interview was conducted as part of the Oral History of Criminology Project. In this conversation, Howard S. Becker reflects on the origins of labeling theory, his ethnographic approach, and the intellectual climate that shaped his work.
Key Works
Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. New York: Free Press.
Becker, H. S. (1967). Whose Side Are We On?Social Problems, 14(3), 239–247.
Becker, H. S. (1982). Art Worlds. Berkeley: University of California Press.
