Labeling is defined as describing
someone or something in a word or short phrase. Labelling theory is
a theory in sociology which describes labelling of people to
control and identification of deviant behavior. The main
consequences of labeling people are as follows:
- Self-fulfilling
prophecy: Patients may allow diagnostic label to define
who they are and lower self esteem.
- Thomas Szasz:
Symptoms used as evidence of mental illness are medical labels that
give professionals an excuse to in what are really social
problems.
- Myths:
Psychological disorders have a similar prevalence in all cultures
biology creates disorder, culture shapes experience
culture-specific disorders occur only in exotic places
- Insanity: Legal
term, referring to a person who is unable, because of a mental
disorder or defect, to conform his or her behavior to the law