Describe and evaluate one other explanation of criminal/anti-social behaviour. (12)

* One other explanation for criminal behaviour is labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy. Labelling theory states that criminal or anti-social behaviour is a consequence of the application of a criminal label given to the individual by others around them. * This explanation has four main stages. Firstly, a label is assigned to the individual by others around them; such labels are derived from stereotypes. For example, hoody wearers being labelled as troublemakers because of their physical appearance. * Secondly, the labelled individual will be treated according to their label by others around them. For example, if a crime such as graffiti occurs and a hoody wearer is nearby they will be blamed because their label is of a troublemaker. * Thirdly, the labelled individual reacts by starting to believe their assigned label. As a reaction to constantly being treated differently, the hoody wearer starts to believe that they are a bad person. * Finally, this results in the labelled individual behaving in line with the expectations of those around them which confirms the label. For example, the hoody wearer engages in criminal behaviour therefore a self-fulfilling prophecy (SFP) has occurred whereby the label has become true. * One example to illustrate how labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy occurs is the naming of boys in the Ashanti tribe according to the day of the week they are born on. The tradition is that boys born on a Wednesday are given the name Kwaku to reflect the belief that they are more aggressive. This is the labelling part of the theory. The boys are then treated differently because of their name and may start to act in a more aggressive manner and believe their label.

* Empirical evidence in support of labelling and the SFP comes from