Final answer:
Labeling theory explains how societies and social groups determine what behaviors are considered deviant. Tertiary deviance refers to a situation where a person fully embraces their deviant identity. This concept is important in understanding how deviance is constructed and how individuals respond to societal labels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Labeling theory, a component of symbolic interactionism, explains how societies and social groups determine what behaviors are considered deviant. According to labeling theory, deviance is not determined by the actions themselves, but by the reactions of others to these actions. Tertiary deviance refers to a situation where a person who has been labeled as deviant by society fully embraces that deviant identity and acts even more deviantly as a form of rebellion. For example, a student labeled as a troublemaker may start behaving even more rebelliously after receiving that label. This concept is important in understanding how deviance is constructed and how individuals respond to societal labels.