Abstract
Abstract Social scientists oriented toward labeling have argued that there are unfortunate consequences, in the form of self‐fulfilling prophesies or secondary deviance, of placing people into a deviant category and giving them the label associated with that grouping. This paper proposes that such a process of categorization is inaccurate because it transforms activity into identity. Identity suggests permanence, whereas activity suggests voluntarism, responsibility, and the labile nature of human conduct. Deviance without deviants would stress the impermanence of patterns of behavior, even though they be patterns, and the potential of all persons to go in all directions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
