labeling theory

n. In sociology, the idea that when a label is attached to a person within a social group, the individual begins to behave according to her/his label, thus enacting a self-fulfilling prophecy. Thus labeling a schoolage boy as bad and the social reaction of the boy himself and those of the people around him to that label may lead him actually to become bad or at least be worse than he would have been otherwise. Also called societal reaction theory.