IndexLabeling theoryConflict theoryStrategies used to justify norm-violating behaviorSocial reaction / consequences of norm enforcementTotal institutionsStigma and identity managementObstacles structuralLabeling TheoryInstances of labeling theory in the story are illustrated through the character of Ben. Labeling theory refers to the fact that labels imposed on a person will eventually shape the individual's self-image (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). In Ben's case, the label of a deviant individual has been assigned to him by various individuals who hold power and authority in society. This is demonstrated by the fact that Ben was considered a “troublemaker” by the community and authority figures at the school. Ben took on this label as a young teenager, which led him to commit further crimes such as burglary which led to him being labeled a criminal. Cooley's “mirror self” would say that Ben sees himself the way he feels others see him (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Because others see him as a troublemaker, Ben also sees himself the same way and accepts the label. Katz's seduction of crime would explain that Ben engaged in robberies due to a lack of total control over his life (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). It may be because his life is totally out of control or is controlled by the system (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). Since Ben comes from a low-income family where his parents struggle to make ends meet, it's understandable that he feels he has little control over his situation. Conflict Theory Conflict theorists argue that the organized state does not represent public interests but represents the private interests of those who have sufficient power to control the operation (Vold, Bernard, Snipes, 2002). The more power one holds, the less likely one is to be considered a criminal (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). This is seen throughout Ben's life. Ben grows up in a marginalized neighborhood where his parents struggle to make ends meet. This shows how Ben and his family have relatively no power compared to the families he robs. The conflict theory is shown when Ben and his friends are targeted by both school staff and the police. This can be analyzed using Turk's “criminalization theory”. Turk argues that criminalization can occur when authority has power and resisters have relatively little or no power (Bernard, Snipes, & Vold, 2002). In both situations, Ben and his friends had no power while the school staff and police officials had the power. In both scenarios, school staff and police officers represented the highest form of authority in those environments, thus holding all the power. Their power is what made the situations possible. If it weren't for the power the school staff had, they might not have unfairly targeted them for their perceived label. If it were not for the authority of the police officer, they could not have been wrongly booked. Strategies Used to Justify Norm-Breaking Behavior Throughout the story, Ben and his friends use neutralization techniques. These include denial of the offense, condemnation of the condemners, and the appearance of higher loyalty. When Ben and his friends steal electronic devices from rich families,they consider it not harmful to families as they only take items that could be replaced. Denial of harm occurs when an offender insists that his or her actions have caused no harm to someone (Sykes and Matza, 1957). They went even further, insisting they had done no harm because no one was home while they were stealing. . Sentencing of convicts occurs when “the offender shifts the focus of attention from his own deviant acts to the motivations and behavior of those who disapprove of his violations” (Sykes and Matza, 1957, p.668). This happens when Ben, his friends and his older brother are carded for what they believe is not a good reason. They feel they are being carded because they live in a low-income neighborhood and frequent apartment buildings and parks. While Ben shifts attention to the police for targeting him and his friends for no good reason, he ignores the label he and his friends have that could impact the police who card them. The final neutralization technique employed is to appear to have a higher loyalty. . This occurs when one sacrifices the demands of the larger society for the demands of one's own group (Sykes and Matza, 1957). This comes when the police question Ben and he doesn't reveal his friend's identity, even though it meant his sentence would be shorter. When it comes to crime, this technique is very popular when it comes to being interrogated and "reporting" your friends. Social reaction / consequences of enforcement After Ben's illegal activities were made aware, the media discovered the story and many families who had been robbed spoke about the effects it had on them. Garfinkel would describe this as “the offender's public identity transformed into something considered inferior in the local scheme of social types” (Garfinkel, 1956). This public degradation ceremony is a way to transform Ben's identity into that of a criminal. because of his actions. With widespread media, this is something very important today. Household accounts also make it more powerful. The media's portrayal of events can cause moral panic and have negative effects on the perpetrator (Quinn, Forsyth, & Mullen-Quinn, 2004). Society's reaction to burglaries has led to a moral panic. Cohen would describe this moral panic as one defined as a threat to social values ​​managed by right-thinking people and other important people who then get swamped or disappear (2011). In this case, the fact that wealthy families who have been robbed speak out contributes to moral panic. Families were afraid of intruders and children were afraid to sleep in their rooms alone because of stories spread by the media. Total Institutions Towards the end of Ben's story, he encounters total institutions. Examples of total institutions would be the prison and the halfway house. Goffman defines a total institution as “a place of residence and work in which large numbers of similarly situated individuals are cut off from the larger society for an appreciable period of time together to lead a previously administered closed life cycle” ( 1961). . It is pointed out that the prison where Ben served his sentence was far from his hometown, which highlights how cut off he was from society. This also makes it much more difficult for his family to visit him. Goffman also argues that total institutions strip someone of their identity and force them to take on a new one (1961). Ben was very used to independence, so prison was a big change to get used to. It was difficult for Ben to adjust to the condition of.