labelling theory the view, developed by symbolic interactionists, that the labels people are given affect their own and others’ perceptions of them, thus channelling their behaviour into either social deviance or conformity

labour unions worker organizations that seek to improve wages and working conditions through various strategies, including negotiations and strikes

laissez-faire capitalism unrestrained manufacture and trade (loosely, “leave alone” capitalism)

laissez-faire leader an individual who leads by being highly permissive

language a system of symbols that can be combined in an infinite number of ways and can represent not only objects but also abstract thought

latent functions the unintended consequences of people’s actions that help keep a social system in equilibrium

leader someone who influences other people

leadership styles ways people express their leadership

leisure time not taken up by work or required activities such as eating, sleeping, commuting, child care, and housework

liberation theology a fusion of Christian principles with political activism, often Marxist in character

life course the sequence of events that we experience as we journey from birth to death

life expectancy the average life span of a society’s population

life span the maximum length of life of a species

living will a statement people in good health sign that clearly expresses their feelings about being kept alive on artificial life support systems

looking-glass self a term coined by Charles Horton Cooley to refer to the process by which our self develops through internalizing others’ reactions to us

low-income countries nations with little industrialization in which severe poverty is the rule