Howard C. Becker

Howard C. Becker is a sociologist best known for his work on how deviant behavior, like drug use or crime, is learned through social interactions. He introduced the idea that actions become considered deviant only when society labels them as such. His influential book, *Outsiders*, explains that people gain their identities and behaviors through their relationships and the meanings they ascribe to their actions. Becker’s work highlights that deviance isn't just about the acts themselves but about how society responds to them, emphasizing the importance of social context in understanding behavior.