Interactionist and labelling approaches constitute a paradigm shift in criminological theory. Rather than explaining crime as the outcome of static individual pathologies or deterministic social factors, these perspectives emphasise the social construction of deviance through processes of interaction, attribution, and power. CrimeActs or omissions that violate criminal laws and are punishable by the state., in this view, is not a self-evident act but an outcome of societal definitions and reactions.
Labelling theories reject purely etiological explanations of crime that seek causal factors within the individual or structural background. Instead, they focus on the processes through which certain behaviours come to be defined as deviant, the social mechanisms of stigmatisation, and the consequences of such definitions for individual identities and life courses. PunishmentThe imposition of a penalty in response to an offense or crime, intended to deter, reform, or incapacitate. and social reaction are not neutral responses but active forces that can reproduce and stabilise deviant roles.
DevianceDeviance refers to behaviors, beliefs, or characteristics that violate social norms and provoke negative social reactions. is not an intrinsic quality of the act, but the product of its definition as deviant by others.
Historical and Theoretical Foundations
The theoretical foundations of labelling approaches lie in symbolic interactionism, particularly the work of George H. Mead and Charles Horton Cooley. These traditions emphasise that meanings are created and negotiated through social interaction. An early and highly influential application in criminology is Frank Tannenbaum’s concept of „tagging“ in Crime and the Community (1938). Tannenbaum argued that the process of defining and emphasising certain behaviours as deviant can actually create and reinforce criminal identities. His „dramatization of evil“ thesis highlighted how official labelling can push young people toward adopting deviant roles they might otherwise avoid. Tannenbaum’s work laid essential groundwork for the later development of labelling theory by showing how social reactions can transform occasional rule-breaking into a deviant career.
Edwin Lemert systematically developed these insights by distinguishing between primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance refers to initial rule-breaking that might go unnoticed or be socially tolerated. Secondary deviance, however, emerges when societal reactions formalise a deviant label, leading the individual to internalise and perform this deviant identity. Lemert’s analysis underscores the transformative role of social reaction in shaping criminal careers.
Howard S. Becker’s Outsiders (1963) represents another foundational text. Becker argued that deviance is not inherent in the act but in the social processes of rule creation, enforcement, and the differential application of sanctions. His work shifted criminological inquiry from the causes of deviant acts to the ways societies define, label, and manage deviance, emphasising power dynamics and social inequality.
Critical Developments and Contemporary Approaches
Over time, labelling theory has continued to evolve and inspire new directions. One important development is John Braithwaite’s Reintegrative ShamingReintegrative shaming is a form of social disapproval that condemns the offense while supporting the reintegration of the offender. approach. Braithwaite distinguished between disintegrative shaming, which excludes and stigmatises offenders, and reintegrative shaming, which condemns the offence while supporting the offender’s reintegration into the community. This distinction addressed the ambivalent effects of punishment and offered a normative framework for restorative justice practices.
Terminological Debates and Conceptual Scope
The diversity of labelling perspectives has led to debates about appropriate terminology. Scholars have used terms such as Societal Reaction Theory, Sociology of Deviance, Social Interactionism, Neo-Chicago School, Definition Approach, and Control Paradigm. This heterogeneity reflects the range of questions labelling theorists ask, from micro-level interactional dynamics to broader questions about power, inequality, and the role of criminal justice institutions in defining and producing deviance. Given this complexity, it is often more precise to speak of a labelling approach rather than a single, unified theory.
Summary and Significance
Overall, interactionist and labelling approaches have fundamentally transformed criminological thinking by relocating the analysis of crime from inherent individual traits or structural deficits to the dynamic, negotiated, and power-laden processes of social definition and reaction. They highlight the active role of social institutions, cultural norms, and everyday interactions in producing and maintaining categories of deviance, as well as the potential of social reactions to reinforce or mitigate criminal careers. As such, they remain essential for any critical engagement with the social construction of crime and the functioning of criminal justice systems.
