Evaluation of Labelling Theory and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy as
an explanation of Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
Strengths Weaknesses
Research findings: Rosenthal & Jacobson found that Evaluation of research findings: Much research into
pupils labelled ‘spurter’ (bright) by a (false) IQ test Labelling and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy has taken
significantly improved in their next IQ performance place in the context of education, IQ and alcohol such as
compared to those who were not labelled as ‘spurters’. Rosenthal and Madon, and there are issues with
This supports the idea that teachers’ labels and extrapolating these findings to support the idea that
expectations can cause the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in labels regarding criminal behaviour will have the same
terms of student performance, and therefore if someone effect on behaviour.
is labelled as ‘criminal’ or ‘anti-social’ they may also
live up to that label. Evaluation of research findings: much research into
Labelling and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy is
Research findings: Jahoda found the Ashanti’s correlational and therefore cannot be used to establish
expectations about boys born on Monday being quiet whether the label is causing the criminal/anti-social
and boys born on a Wednesday being aggressive were behaviour, or another third variable (for example,
associated with changes in behaviour as nearly 22% of biological factors) is causing the behaviour and the label.
violent offences were committed by boys born on
Wednesday, but only 6.9% by boys born on Monday. Alternative theories:
This supports the idea that criminal or anti-social ● Labelling and SFP fails to explain how biological
behaviour can be explained through Labelling and factors may explain criminal behaviour.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy as the boys conformed to the Criminals or anti-social behaviour could be a
labels of having a ‘Wednesday’ or ‘Monday’ personality. result of these individuals having the (MAOA)
‘warrior gene’ or high levels of testosterone in the
Research findings: Madon found that there was a body that could result in criminal/ASB.
positive correlation between parents who overestimated
their child’s alcohol use and actual alcohol use a year ● Social Learning Theory may offer a better
later. However, underestimating alcohol use did not lead explanation in terms of how an individual learns
to less actual alcohol assumption. This suggests negative criminality through observing and imitating role
labels may have a greater effect on behaviour than models, and labelling and SFP do not explain
positive ones and since criminal labels are negative this how the person acquires criminal behaviour.
supports Labelling/SFP as an explanation of crime/ASB.
Evaluation of research findings: Rosenthal, Jahoda,
and Madon are all ecologically valid because the
students/children’s behaviour were all real-life
behaviours that occurred in school or their everyday life.
This means these studies are strong evidence to support
Labelling/SFP as an explanation of crime/ASB.
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