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EFFECT OF PUBLIC LABELLING

NCJ Number
41719
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 112-125
Author(s)
D P FARRINGTON
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A BRITISH STUDY UNDERTAKEN TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PUBLICLY LABELLED AS DEVIANT WILL INCREASE THEIR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AS A RESULT.
Abstract
IN TESTING THIS HYPOTHESIS, PUBLIC LABELLING IS OPERATIONALLY DEFINED AND MEASURED BY OFFICIAL CONVICTIONS IN COURT FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES, WHILE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IS OPERATIONALLY DEFINED AND MEASURED BY SELF-REPORTS OF THE COMMISSION OF CERTAIN DELINQUENT AND SOCIALLY DISAPPROVED ACTS. THE SUBJECTS WERE A SAMPLE OF LONDON WORKING CLASS YOUTHS FROM EIGHT TO EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MATCHING DESIGN WAS USED. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT PUBLIC LABELLING (MEASURED BY CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS) INCREASES DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (MEASURED BY SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY SCORES). ...DMC