OFFICIAL DEVIANCE AND SPOILED IDENTITY - DELINQUENTS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

• NCJ Number: 41936
• Journal: Pacific Sociological Review Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 163-179
• Author(s): J R HEPBURN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES WHETHER THE LABELING OF AN INDIVIDUAL AS DELINQUENT TRANFORMS HIS OR HER BEHAVIOR IN A DEVIANT FASHION.

Abstract

DATA SUGGESTS THAT AN OFFICIAL LABEL HAS THE EFFECT OF (1) INCREASING THE DEVIANT SELF-IMAGE OR IDENTIFICATION OF THE LABELED ACTOR, AND (2) PRODUCING OR STABILIZING A DEVIANT IMAGE OR IDENTIFICATION OF THE ACTOR FOR OTHERS. THE ARGUMENT THAT OFFICIAL LABELING WILL PRODUCE OR STABILIZE A DELINQUENT PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION IS PREDICATED UPON THE FACT THAT OFFICIAL INTERVENTION PUBLICIZES THE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDES LEGITIMATION OF THE DEFINITION OF THE JUVENILE AS DELINQUENT. THAT IS, THE OFFICIAL SANCTION MAY EXAGGERATE THE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR....BDS