What is the core idea of labeling theory regarding deviance?

• A. Social labels lead individuals to act in ways that confirm the label.
• B. Labels have no impact on behavior.
• C. Labeling theory denies the existence of deviance.
• D. Self-fulfilling prophecy describes a weather pattern.

Answer: (A)

Labeling theory centers on how society’s reactions to rule-breaking shape a person’s identity and future behavior. When someone is marked as deviant, that label can influence how others treat them and how the person sees themselves, often pushing them toward actions that align with the label. This self-fulfilling process helps explain why deviance can persist beyond the initial act.

That’s why the best description is that social labels lead individuals to act in ways that confirm the label. The other options miss the social-identity dynamics, deny the impact of labels, or mix in an unrelated idea (like weather patterns) that doesn’t fit how labeling works in sociology.