Howard Becker's Labeling Theory

Labeling Theory

The Labeling theory (social reaction theory) was first proposed during the 1950’s in opposition to normative theorists. Some of the major contributors of this theory were Howard Becker, Edwin Lemert, and Frank Tannenbaum. Lemert, although not directly regarded as a labeling theorist, introduced the concept of primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance is behavior that causes initial labeling of one as deviant. Once labeled, subsequent behaviors are referred to as secondary deviance. Clearly one can draw from Lemert that his contribution is prolific as he helped spearhead the inception of the Labeling theory. Howard Becker provided an acceptable definition for the Labeling theory, which is used today after many years. Tennenbaum (1938) contributed to the theory by arguing, that the process of tagging, defining, identifying, segregating, etc.

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