internalized label (Thompson, 2014). For example, if a teacher is told a child is a “problem child,” then he/she is more likely to treat the child in accordance with that problem label, instead of the child thinking he is bad and behaving badly because of the label.
Labeling theory does have its advantages as well. First, it may have merit on crimes of the powerful, as naming and shaming could produce guilt and lessen the likelihood of recidivism for the labeled individual if disapproval comes from someone the individual highly respects (Braithwaite & Drahos, 2002). Still, there is a corporate veil that protects the powerful from stigma (Braithwaite & Drahos, 2002). Another advantage is that labeling theory brought up conversations and discussions of reintegration through internal shaming and the risks of public shaming to protect vulnerable offenders like juveniles from losing opportunities in the future, as well as implications for life course trajectory (Braithwaite & Drahos, 2002; Denver et al., 2017; Kroska et al., 2016). These discussions led to advances in developmental criminology, and to policy efforts aimed at improving opportunities for offenders and reducing recidivism (Denver et al., 2017).

Contributions

​​Criminology.

With the recently renewed interest in labeling theory, there have been some notable contributions to criminology. In regards to theoretical contributions, labeling theory focuses on sociological aspects of delinquency, rather than the pathological and individual aspects that many other theories focus on. It attempts to explain the creation of delinquent careers and why some adolescents continue to lead deviant lives while others can turn their live around. It separates delinquent acts from delinquent careers, recognizing that just because an individual commits one delinquent act does not mean he will go on to become a career criminal. Taking this fact into account, this theory also recognizes that delinquent acts and delinquent careers should be treated differently, since they are in fact different entities.