Final answer:
According to labeling theories, when an individual is engaged in an act of deviance, it exemplifies secondary deviance where society's labeling of the person as deviant leads to an internalization of this identity, potentially resulting in further deviant actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person engages in an act of deviance, this is an example of secondary deviance as explained by labeling theories. Labeling theory posits that deviance is not inherent in an act, but rather is the result of the application of rules and sanctions to an 'offender.' In this context, when society labels an individual as deviant, particularly after a formal sanction such as the case of a person being caught and labeled as a speeder, this might lead to secondary deviance. This is where an individual internalizes the label and may continue to engage in deviant behavior due to this new master status.
For instance, if a person who is labeled as a deviant by society due to certain actions, like a convicted sexual offender, they might accept this label and it becomes a master status that overwhelms other aspects of their identity. Subsequently, the theory would explain that due to this internalization and societal reaction, the individual continues to engage in deviant behavior, which in this case could lead to repeated crimes after being released on parole.