labelling and SFP

• what is labelling?

  teachers attach labels to pupils regardless of their actual ability

  • stereotypical assumptions means MC are labelled positively and WC negatively.
• define the key term symbolic interactionalism

  social interactions create meaning through symbols such as language and gesture.
• how does symbolic interactionalism apply to labelling being an internal factor?

  how social interactions shape our understanding of others.

  • teachers interact with students and give them labels.
• what did Becker find by interviewing 60 Chicago high school teachers (1971)?


  they attach label to students depending on how close they match the ideal pupil.

  • judgements were based on appearance, speech, their work and parents occupations.
  • MC pupils as closest to ideal pupil
• Hempel-Jorgensen argues the ideal pupil depends on the overall class of the school.


  the ideal pupil is:

  • WC primary school - quiet, obedient defining them by behaviour rather than ability
  • MC primary school - defined by academic ability and personality instead of behaviour.
• labelling in secondary schools

  Dunne & Gazely (2008) suggests schools reproduce WC underachievement because of teachers' labels and assumptions.
• how do schools reproduce WC underachievement according to Dunne & Gazely?

  interviews in nine secondary schools.

  • teachers normalised WC pupils' underachievement and didn't think they could do anything to help
  • but at the same time they thought they could overcome MC underachievement.
• what was the reason behind normalising WC underachievement?

  teachers made assumptions about their students home and background.

  • labelled WC parents as uninterested
  • MC parents as supportive
• what did Rist find about labelling in primary schools (1970) ?


  teachers use info about pupils home background to sort them into groups
• what were the groups that teachers sorted students into based on their home background in primary schools?

  • Tigers: MC fast learners who have a clean appearance. they received the most help and attention
  • Cardinals & Clowns: WC pupils were given lower level books and ability work. received less help and were seated further way from the teacher.
• outline the process of the self fulfilling prophecy

  1. teacher labels student and makes a prediction based on it
  2. teacher treats the student like the label and acts like the prediction has already come true
  3. pupil internalises the teacher's expectations and it has become a part of their self image.
• give an example of the SFP

  1. teacher labels student as trouble maker and predicts they will fail
  2. does not give the student help/attention
  3. pupil gets no help and gives up and resigns themselves to being just a trouble maker.
• summarise Rosenthal & Jacobson's study (1968) ?

  told the teacher that half of her students were bloomers who would do really well in school.

  • a year later, the randomly picked pupils improved academically
• why did the bloomers in Rosenthal and Jacobson's study do well in school?

  teacher labelled the pupils as achiever & gave them more encouragement and support than the other pupils.

  • led to a self fulfilling prophecy where the pupils succeeded.