Empirical evidence supports the view that labelling plays an important role in persistent offending.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

There are numerous studies which provide evidence to suggest that labelling can lead to persistent offending. Labelling theorists argue that once an individual has been labelled as a criminal, they may find it difficult to escape this identity, and this can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby the individual feels that they have no choice but to continue to engage in criminal behaviour. This concept is supported by empirical evidence from studies such as Becker's study of marijuana users and Lemert's study of secondary deviance.

Empirical Evidence Supports the View That Labelling Plays an Important