Annotated Further Readings: Labeling and Interactionist Theories of Crime

In this article, Athens intended to extend his violentization theory toward the macro-social perspective. Efforts were made to establish the linkage between the micro-level theory and macro-level social characteristics, such as social structure and community culture. With the newly amended theory, Athens expected to counter the criticism that violentization theory fails to see the larger social context underlying violent conduct.

Articles with in-depth discussions of Athens's arguments about the decision process, self-image, and interpreting social experience of violent criminals are gathered in this edited book. The contributors’ works enhance Athens's violentization theory and also provide insights on linking Athens's theory to social learning theory and labeling theory in a comparative manner.

This is Howard S. Becker's primary work on deviance and, according to his website, is all he has to say on the topic to date.

This work is a current reexamination of labeling theory as is applies today. The article also references the work of Becker and others that may enhance understanding of labeling theoretical perspective.

This article was cited by Howard S. Becker on his website and provides another perspective on the theoretical approach to deviance.

In Social Pathology, Edwin Lemert developed the concepts of primary and secondary deviance. This distinction was an early statement of how societal reaction can stabilize individuals in deviant or criminal careers that otherwise might have been transitory.

This work is considered to have great impact and influence in the formation of labeling theory and thus is essential in the creation of this perspective. In order to more fully understand the concepts that Becker discusses in his work and later studies in which empirical observations and findings are framed under labeling theory, an understanding of the historical foundation of the theory could be useful.

Becker's classic book explains why some people are labeled as deviant and some are not, even for the same acts. The process and outcomes of labeling are explained by Becker.