Labeling theory holds that observations that society's underdogs engage in more deviance than their middle and upper class counterparts are invalid because the response of society to deviance is socially differential at every phase of the criminal justice system.

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Labeling theory asserts that individuals who are stigmatized as "deviant" by society may be more likely to engage in further deviant behavior. This theory challenges the notion that certain groups engage in more crime or deviance simply because of their social position, and instead emphasizes the role of societal reactions to deviant behavior in reinforcing or discouraging further deviance. Therefore, the observation that some groups appear to engage in more deviance than others may be misleading, as it fails to take into account the differential treatment of deviants at various stages of the criminal justice system based on their social status.

Labeling Theory Holds That Observations That Society's Underdogs Engage in More