Social Process Theory

Quiz 2

The Social Process Theories is the belief that all people regardless of race or economic means have the chance to become a criminal if they maintain destructive social relationships. The three branches to the Social Process Theories are, Social Learning, Social Control, and Social Labeling.

The Social Learning theory stresses the people learn how to commit crimes. Under this branch of Social Process Theories, Edwin Sutherland created the “Differential Association” theory. According to Sutherland, criminal behavior is learned through interaction, the people you surround yourself with, and the values in which are important to you due to your “intimate” groups. A reformulated version of Sutherland’s theory is called “Differential Reinforcement” theory by Akers. Through negative reinforcement and direct conditioning crime is learned. The neutralization theory by Matza and Sykes states that criminals neutralize conventional values and drift towards a life of crime. Through many denials such as responsibility, victim, and injury, criminals believe there actions are vindicated and somewhat acceptable.

The Social Control theory suggests that all people have the potential to violate the law, but there conventional values and self-control prevent them from violating the law. Under this theory, Hirschi believes that social bond is extremely important to maintaining conventional values. The bonds that cannot be weakened according to Hirschi are, commitment, attachment, involvement and belief. If these bonds are weakened illegal behavior becomes more likely.

The Social Labeling theory suggests that being negatively labeled by others can promote a life of crime and illegal activity. If from the onset of childhood you are labeled an outsider, criminal, or any other socially unacceptable terms you become more susceptible to committing criminal activities.

Daniel Carpano

Mitrione

November 5 2013

Tue 6-8:40

Quiz 2

The most recent theory in Criminology is known as...