labeling theory

the sociological hypothesis that describing an individual in terms of particular behavioral characteristics may have a significant effect on his or her behavior, as a form of self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, describing an individual as deviant and then treating him or her as such may result in mental disorder or delinquency. Also called societal-reaction theory. See also primary deviance.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

disarranged-sentence test

a test or test item whose objective is to put a scrambled sentence in proper order. For example, the individual being tested could be required to reorder “Boy town the to went bustling the” to read “The boy went to the bustling town.”