Racial differences in informal labeling effects

Labeling theorists have long argued that the application of negative labels can promote rather than deter delinquent behavior. Yet, it has also been suggested that the effects of negative labeling may vary by factors such as race and social class. With an emphasis on the formal labeling process, stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Deviant behavior 1998-04, Vol.19 (2), p.157-171
Main Authors: Adams, Mike S., Johnson, James D., Evans, T. David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black White Differences
Juvenile Delinquency
Labeling
Stereotypes
United States of America
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Summary:Labeling theorists have long argued that the application of negative labels can promote rather than deter delinquent behavior. Yet, it has also been suggested that the effects of negative labeling may vary by factors such as race and social class. With an emphasis on the formal labeling process, studies of differential effects by race have generally found Blacks to be less affected than Whites by negative typing. Labeling theorists have also stressed the importance of informal, unofficial labeling. The present study augments the literature by separately assessing the informal effects of negative labeling on delinquency for Black and White respondents. The results suggest that informal labels have an even greater effect on delinquency among Blacks than among Whites.
ISSN:0163-9625
1521-0456
DOI:10.1080/01639625.1998.9968081