Female Identity Crisis Focus on the Individualism
17 symbolic interactionism perspective and has evolved in such a way to
research and testing in various fields such as criminology, mental health, health, and education. Labeling theory has started by Lemert and symbolic
interactionism of Herbert Mead in Sunarto, 2004. Later, this theory develops by Becker in 1963. Initially, the Structural Theory deviant or
deviation understood as behavior that exists and is a character as opposed to social norms. Devian is a form of behavior.
Mead 1934 states that people act together. They do what they do with an eye on what others have done, are doing now, and may do in the
future. Furthermore, one tries to fit his own line of action into the actions of others, just as each of them likewise adjusts his own developing actions
to what he sees and expects others to do.
Labeling theory states that the more often and more people who label to a particular person or group, the person or the group
will resemble and even be transformed into a label that is given to him or her. This reaction arises because someone labeled felt caged in
label given to him Hikmat, 2008.
Labeling is one of the most reasons for someone to do secondary deviation. Someone who labeled tends to perform other actions
which also include actions primary irregularities, especially in defending themselves from granting that label. Someone who labeled is trying to
eliminate the label granted, but eventually they are likely to commit PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
18 irregularities the others because it cannot maintain the attitude of the label
given Martine, 2008.
Labeling theory stresses the idea that deviance is a relative term. Under this perspective, people become deviant not because of the act
itself, but how people react to that act. As part of this theory, there are two
types of deviance. Primary deviance refers to episodes of deviant behavior that many people participate in. Secondary deviance is when
someone makes something out of that deviant behavior, which creates a negative social label that changes a persons self-concept and social
identity. People call this negative label a stigma.