Labelling Theory and Mental Illness

Labelling Theory and Mental Illness

Institutionalization

How do YOU feel about YOUR labels?

• Institutionalization or anti-rehabilitation

• The labels in which society imposes on those with a mental disorder directly impacts the way in which the law responds

• Three key elements contributing to the institutionalization of those who have a mental illness

1. "Fear and Exclusion"

2. Loss of independance

3. Social Control

Sorrigan & Watson (2002), 37.

Founders of the theory

Labelling Theory

Impacts of labelling on the self

Howard Becker

says,

deviance is not a quality of the act a person commits but rather a consequence of the application by others

Edwin Lemert

Introduced the theories of primary and secondary deviance.

• Labeling theory is based on the idea that behaviors are deviant only when society labels them as such.

• Labeling theory questions who applies what label to whom, why they do this, and what happens as a result of this labeling.

• Labeled persons may include alcoholics, criminals, delinquents, prostitutes, sex offenders, nerds, and psychiatric patients, just to mention a few.

• What are the negative impacts on the self of labelling a person with a mental illness?

• Can there be positive impacts?

Frank Tannenbaum

After the society labels the individual they begin to identify with that label and fall into the patterns associated with that term or label.

Not criminally responsible

on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD)

• What is NCRMD?
• What does labeling theory have to do with it?
• How does the public react?

Statistics Canada