Assignment 8: Labeling Theory and Deviance

Deviance is behavior (how people act), ideas (how people think), or attributes (how people appear) that some people in society—though not necessarily all people—find offensive, wrong, immoral, sinful, evil, strange, or disgusting" (Newman 242). Deviant acts in our society can range from smoking in a public place, getting into fights, and cheating on a significant other, to murder, child abuse, rape and drug dealing. The last three labels clearly have more severe implications and, in most cases, will result in greater punishments. A person who is labeled a "deviant" not only suffers from the initial penalties of doing something others consider to be wrong, but from the stigma that may follow. Committing an act that is considered deviant can drastically impact  the reputation of a person, and these reputations can be extremely difficult the shed depending on the severity of the offense. 

The labeling theory in sociology characterizes a deviant person as someone to whom the label "deviant" has been successfully applied (Newman 252). When a person is singled out and defined as deviant, it changes the way that others view and act towards them as human beings and can also change the way the so called deviant views him or herself. Labels inevitably bring along with them stereotypes and overgeneralizations, and can be very misleading.  Once labeled a "deviant," you are often automatically assumed to possess the undesirable characteristics attached to that label even though those characteristics may not be accurate. As a result, others in that society may start to treat the deviant with fear, disrespect, distrust, and suspicion forcing them to become outcasts of that society. The labeling effect can cause major harm to people, and also act as a self fulfilling prophecy, causing the deviants to take on the roles of their label.  

Reading this chapter made me think of the Mankato State football coach, Todd Hoffner. In August of  2012, Hoffner was accused of one of the most heinous crimes considerable after one of his colleagues found naked videos of his children on his work cell phone. The videos were interpreted to be sexual and inappropriate, and caused immediate concern.  After the videos were brought to the attention of authorities, Hoffner was escorted off of the football field during practice and taken into custody under the suspicion of using underage people in a sexual performance and possessing child pornography (publicly shamed). Hoffner and his wife objected to these charges and called the felony child porn charges a "rush to judgement," saying the clips found on her husband's cell phone are just "normal, typical family videos" of their kids "in all their craziness." The coach was on paid leave throughout the investigation and trial, as he awaited the possibility of being sent to prison. A search of his home computer found no evidence of child porn, and social workers found no evidence that the couple's children had been abused. He eventually was cleared of these charges in late December after the judged ruled the videos as children simply acting silly after their baths. 

These allegations will, most likely, haunt Hoffner and his family for many years to come. One innocent mistake has changed the way people view him as a person. Labels like "child molester" "child abuser", and "child predator" cause deep hatred within our society. Todd Hoffner has been publicly shamed and humiliated for his actions. He will probably be considered a deviant in the eyes of many for the remainder of his life even though his intentions may have never been what they were interpreted as. 

This case clearly shows how societal norms can be blurred, disagreed upon, and misinterpreted. While the Hoffners viewed the naked videos of their children as "normal, typical, family videos," others interpreted them as the disgusting sexualization of minors and charged him with the monstrous crime of child pornography.  Even though his name has been cleared by authorities, his name will forever be tainted by the misinterpretation of an innocent family video gone awry. As stated in Newman's book, "All ex-offenders experience the stickiness of labels to some degree, despite the legislative efforts to help them" (Newman 253).

 I think it is very important to recognize the affects labeling deviance can have on people and society. We live in a world where labeling is automatic and of second nature. Labeling is quick, easy, and holds a great power that is used to keep societies in order by upholding and reinforcing social norms. Although the labeling of deviance can be beneficial to society, we must also be sure to recognized the negative outcomes that can occur when powerful labels are falsely applied in order to avoid cases like the one above. 

Works Cited:
Newman, David (2012). Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life: 9th Edition. SAGE Publications. 
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/08/todd_hoffners_wife_says_her_husband_is_innocent_of_child_porn_charges.php
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8765090/minnesota-state-mankato-coach-todd-hoffner-no-longer-leave
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/todd-hoffner-college-football-coach-child-porn_n_1820324.html

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