Monday, August 25, 2014

What is Lemerts labeling theory of delinquency?

In gist, the theory states that there are two types of
crime committed by juveniles: One is the Primary deviance, which is basically a crime
that the youth commits that does not affect anyone specifically (for example, under aged
drinking, etc) which are things a juvenile does to himself. Yet, he states that when a
juvenile is labeled a criminal, when authorities insult or
criticize the youth by labeling him a "punk" or  "junkie" or any other name, the youth
internalizes that and his behavior during crime sprees becomes
secondary deviance.


The theory
basically offers that criminal behavior is learned, that the youths feel a self
fulfilling prophecy that makes them further commit more crimes because they feel that
the insult is befitting to them.

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