Labeling Theory and Addicts

Can addicts be considered deviant under the terms of sociological theory?

According to a study by Gresham Sykes and David Matza, social deviants are able to unpin themselves from negative social labels through utilization of five "techniques of neutralization."

These five techniques are all part of the labeling theory on social deviance. Which is centered around the idea of social view or reputation and how the views of others help shape the way a person will behave and act. Almost similar to how socialization is achieved, labeling theory helps to explain how negative or positive labels assigned by others help to shape behaviors of individuals (Henslin, 2010).

The five techniques are all ways in which deviants use to make themselves believe they are not acting against social norms. 

Denial of responsibility and denial of risk/injury are two of the most common neutralization techniques used by addicts whom are attempting to remove themselves as social deviants and make themselves believe they are acting in a socially normal way. Many researchers consider this act to be self-deception (Levy, 2003).

Denial of responsibility is as the name suggests. In this case, the act of an addict blaming his/her problem on some other power beyond themselves. Such excuses as being victims of life, often citing some personal struggle in life as the reason they turned to drugs. The denial of risk/injury is similar to that of denying responsibility. The act of an individual saying that only because no one else is being hurt, their habit doesn't harm society or depict a form of social deviance. Other individuals state that they haven't any other choice than to turn to drugs, alcohol, or sex because the risk of committing suicide was greater without the drugs. Even some state that they are not being deviant because they have found a way to cope and be happy (Levy, 2003). 

The following videos points out a use of Condemnation of the Condemners and an Appeal to Higher
Loyalties.




In this clip you see the addict, Amelia, lashing out at Addison and the other members of the intervention group by using her past life as a way to help explain her addiction as "having fun." The use of the excuse of "wanting to have some fun" is an example of the appeal to higher loyalties. In this case, the loyalty is Amelia's achievement of becoming a Neurosurgeon. Also in the clip, Amelia uses another's acts and states that Addison is being a hypocrite due to her "drinking." This shows the condemning of condemners, accusing people whom appointed the labels of being hypocritical, thus making themselves feel like they aren't being deviant. 

Works Cited

Henslin, James, M. 2010. Sociology, A Down-to-Earth Approach. (10th edition). Boston: Pearson

Levy, Neil. 2003. "Self-Deception and Responsibility for Addiction." Applied Philosophy, 20(2), 133-142. DOI: 10.1111/1468-5930.00242