Labeling is a sociological theory that is used to explain the main reasons for which certain behaviors of minorities are considered deviant. Explaining the concept of deviance, this theory shifts the emphasis from the act of breaking certain rules to the majorities’ attitude towards it. In other words, those individuals who follow the social norms accepted by the majority of the community shape certain opinions of those who break these rules and refer to their behaviors of the latter as deviant. To be successful, the process of labeling has to comply with certain principles.
The first principle is that labels are attached to individuals in the form of gestures, names, and tags. The majorities who follow the rules use certain names, tags, and gestures to treat those who are considered deviant. These labels are used for a certain period before becoming attached to certain groups.
Particular labels can be based upon specific factors such as mental and physical health, appearance, abilities, performance and achievements, area of residence, racial or ethnic background, and behaviors.
Labels can affect the self-perception, identity, and behavior of those who are labeled. Labels can have either negative or positive meaning and encourage or discourage the labeled group, respectively. Labeling can significantly impact the self-perception of the labeled person and become an important predictor of his/her deviant behavior.