In first grade, Scott is unfairly singled out by his teacher for bad behavior, partly because his older brothers had behavioral problems themselves. Throughout grade school, Scott gains a reputation as a "problem" child. Scott eventually drops out of school, thinking he was born to fail anyway. Which school of thought best fits Scott's experience?

These are the options for the question:

a) Control theory

b) Labeling theory

c) Differential association

d) Strain theory

And this is the correct

b) Labeling theory

Explanation:

Labeling theory explains that when individuals are given labels to describe their personality, behaviours, and social standing, said individuals become so influenced by those labels, that they may even adjust their behaviours to fit in the label more closely.

In this case, Scott is not necessarily a person who was born to fail, or who could not help being a problem child, but because he was given those labels by an authority figure at an early age (his teacher) he felt that such a thing was true, convinced himself that the label determined his behaviour, and social standing, and in a negative feedback loop, changed his lifestyle to fin in more closely with the label by dropping out of school.

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