Howard Saul Becker (April 18, 1928 – August 16, 2023) was an American sociologist who taught at Northwestern University. Becker made contributions to the sociology of deviance, sociology of art, and sociology of music. [2] Becker also wrote extensively on sociological writing styles and methodologies. [2]

Howard S. Becker (born April 18, 1928, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died August 16, 2023, San Francisco, California) was an American sociologist known for his studies of occupations, education, deviance, and art.

Mar 21, 2019 · Howard S. "Howie" Becker is an American sociologist renowned for his qualitative research into the lives of those otherwise classified as deviant, and for revolutionizing how deviant behavior is studied and theorized within the discipline.

Aug 21, 2023 · Howard S. Becker, an eminent American sociologist who brought his wide-ranging curiosity, sharp observation and dry wit to subjects as diverse as the art world, marijuana use and the meaning of...

Aug 16, 2024 · Howard Becker, who died on this date (August 16) in 2023, was a pivotal figure in sociology who profoundly shaped our understanding of deviance, subcultures, and the dynamics of social interaction.

Feb 22, 2025 · Howard S. Becker was an American sociologist best known for developing labeling theory, a key concept in criminology that examines how individuals become identified as “deviant” and how that label influences their future behavior.

Sociologist Howard S. Becker, PhB’46, AM’49, PhD’51, talks about his career studying deviance. In 1948, 19-year-old Howard S. Becker was playing piano in a bar on West 63rd Street six nights a week. He was also a graduate student in sociology: “I thought, well, if I write down what happens there, those are field notes.”

Apr 1, 2021 · Professor of Sociology, Northwestern University, 1965–1991. Editor, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, 1961–1964. Vice–President (Central Division), Pacific Sociological Association, 1964–1965. President, Society for the Study of Social Problems, 1965–1966. Fellow, Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, 1969–1970.

3 days ago · From a student at the University of Chicago to one of the most well-respected sociology professors in the world, Howard Becker has made an enormous contribution to the symbolic interactionist tradition.

Howard S. Becker was a prominent American sociologist recognized for his influential work on deviance, music, and the arts. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Becker cultivated a passion for music early in life, playing in a jazz band as a teenager before pursuing higher education at the University of Chicago, where he earned multiple degrees.