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Lesson 7 – Social Process Theories

Robert WonserIntroduction to CriminologyCrime and Delinquency

Introduction

• Social process explanations •Crime result of interaction between individuals•Micro-level view

Learning Theories• Focus on socialization

• Differential association

• Differential identification

• Social learning

• Differential reinforcement

Edwin H. Sutherland

• Differential Association

• Propositions• Criminal behavior is learned• Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication

Differential Association

• Propositions:• The principal part of the learning of

criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups• When criminal behavior is learned, the

learning includes (a) the techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated, sometimes very simple; and (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, and attitudes

Differential Association• Propositions• The specific direction of motives and drives

is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable• A person becomes delinquent because of

an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the law

Differential Association• Propositions•Differential association may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity• The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anticriminal patterns involves all the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning

Differential Association• Propositions• Although criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by these general needs and values, because noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values

Evaluating Differential Association

• One of the most notable criminological theories

• Stressed social nature of crime

• Has received a great deal of empirical support

Criticisms of Differential Association

• Causal order

• Self-selection and friends

• Group nature of crime

• Difficulty in testing theoretical concepts

• Emphasis on male subjects

Other Learning Theories

• Differential identification

• Daniel Glaser• Crime a function of reference groups• Values, attitudes, and behaviors to copy

Social Learning Theory• Albert Bandura

• Theory of aggression• Aggression is learned, not biological

Differential Reinforcement• Robert L. Burgess and Ronald L. Akers•Merged differential association and psychological idea of reinforcement

• Would later become the more recognized, contemporary social learning theory

Evaluation of Other Social Learning Theories

• Very popular variety of theories

• Causal ordering issues

• Reasons for peer influence

• Not all criminal behavior stems from peer influences

Control Theories

• Some Enlightenment theorists thought people are naturally selfish and capable of committing crime and other antisocial behavior

• Why do people not become criminals?• Personal and social controls• Social institutions

Containment Theory

• Walter Reckless

• Key concepts• Inner containments•Outer containments• Internal pushes• External pressures• External pulls

Evaluation of Containment Theory

• Which comes first, self-concepts or criminality?

• Does positive self-concept prevent delinquency?

• Lack of empirical evidence

Neutralization Theory• Gresham M. Sykes and David Matza

• Focus on delinquent guilt and shame

• Delinquents neutralize guilt through:•Denial of responsibility•Denial of injury•Denial of the victim• Condemnation of the condemners• Appeal to higher loyalties

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Drift Theory• David Matza

• Extension of neutralization theory

• Delinquents drift in and out of criminal behavior

Evaluation of Neutralization/Drift Theories

• Popular ideas

• When does the neutralization occur?• Before or after criminal act?

• Serious offenders do not necessarily experience guilt

• Has some empirical support

Social Bonding Theory• Travis Hirschi

• Most popular criminological theory today

• Focus on:• Attachment - Sensitivity to and interest in

others• Commitment - Time, energy, and effort

spent in conventional activities • Involvement - Morals, values, belief in the

law• Belief - Participation in convention activities

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Evaluation of Social Bonding

• Has researched males and females

• Criticisms:• Relationship between crime and bonding is weak• Are bonds weak or weakened by crime• Interrelationship between commitment and involvement•Does not explain geographical differences in crime

Self-Control Theory

• Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi

• General theory of crime

• Crime stems from a lack of self-control

• Focus on impulsivity

Evaluation of Self-Control Theory

• One of the most popular theories today

• Circular reasoning

• Effects of low self-control are not very strong

• Low self-control a constant over the life-course?

• Assumption that all crime is spontaneous and unskilled