Sally was six months pregnant and having a glass of wine at a bar. She was aware that people were disapproving of her drinking, which made her so angry that she thought, "I'll give them something to really condemn me for" and went outside to smoke a cigarette. What kind of a social theorist would be most interested in studying this escalation of deviant behaviour?

Question

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A labelling theorist would be most interested in studying this escalation of deviant behaviour because they focus on how societal reactions and labels can push individuals further into deviance. In this case, Sally may have felt labelled or stigmatized for her initial deviance (drinking while pregnant) and therefore acted out further with another deviant behavior (smoking).

Sally Was Six Months Pregnant and Having a Glass of Wine