1. Criminality is a function of SOCIALIZATION
Social Process Theory
Criminality is a function of
SOCIALIZATION

2. All people regardless of class,
Social Process Theory
All people regardless of class,
gender, race, etc. have the
potential to become criminals.

3. Social Process Theory
Criminal attitude and behavior can be controlled with: Good Families Good Schools Peers Religion

4. Social Process Theory
PARENTAL EFFICACY: Parents who are supportive and control their children in a NON COERSIVE manner.

5. Social Process Theory
NEGATIVE FAMILY FACTORS INCLUDE: Poor supervision and discipline Lack of affection Parents with mental illness Drug abusing parents Abuse Severe Discipline

6. Social Process Theory
Education: Children who do poorly in school or feel alienated are likely to engage in criminal behavior.

7. Social Process Theory
Education cont. Minority groups, (Native American, Hispanics, African Americans): Have a 50% chance of getting their High School Diploma

8. Social Process Theory School Violence:
Education cont.
School Violence:
Bullying is a common experience.
16% report being bullied
1.5 million violent incidents occur in elementary & High School each year

9. Social Process Theory Attending church, as opposed to just
Religion
Attending church, as opposed to just
having religious beliefs is a more
significant inhibitor of crime.

10. Social Process Theory
Social Process Theory has 3 branches: 1. Social Learning Theory – Crime is learned 2. Social Control Theory – Crime is controlled by peoples bonds to society 3. Social Reaction (Labeling Theory) – People become criminals because they are labeled as criminals.

11. Social Process Theory
Branch #1 Social Learning Social Learning Theorists believe: Crime is a product of learning the norms, values and behavior associated with criminal activity.

12. Social Process Theory
There are two forms of Social Learning Theory. 1. Differential Association Theory 2. Neutralization Theory

13. Social Process Theory Differential Association Theory:
Edwin Sutherland (1939)
Differential Association Theory:
Crime is a learning process that can affect any individual in any culture.

14. Social Process Theory VALUES, ATTITUDES & DEFINITIONS.
Edwin Sutherland (1939)
Differential Association Theory cont.
Skills & motives to commit crimes are learned as a result of CONTACT with pro – crime:
VALUES, ATTITUDES & DEFINITIONS.

15. Social Process Theory
Differential Association Theory cont. CULTURAL CONFLICT: Result in opposing norms, attitudes & definitions of right and wrong, moral and immoral.

16. Social Process Theory
Neutralization Theory - David Matza & Gresham Sykes (1964)
Criminals must learn to
neutralize conventional values
& attitudes.

17. Social Process Theory
Neutralization Theory - David Matza & Gresham Sykes (1964) cont.
Drift
Criminals DRIFT back & forth between criminal and conventional behavior.

18. Social Process Theory
Neutralization Theory - David Matza & Gresham Sykes (1964) cont. Criminals do NOT commit crime all of the time.

19. Social Process Theory TECHNIQUES of Neutralization.
1. Denial of responsibility
2. Denial of injury
3. Denial of the victim

20. Social Process Theory TECHNIQUES of Neutralization.
4. Condemnation of the condemner's.
(Police & judges are corrupt)
5. Appeal to higher loyalties.
(The gang is more important)

21. Social Process Theory
Branch # 2 Social Control Theory Social Control Theorists Believe: People obey laws because they are controlled by internal & external forces.

22. Social Process Theory SELF CONTROL
Social Control Theory cont.
SELF CONTROL
A strong moral sense that renders a person
INCAPABLE of hurting others or
violating social norms.

23. Social Process Theory COMMITMENT TO CONFORMITY
Social Control Theory cont.
COMMITMENT TO CONFORMITY
A strong personal investment in
conventional institutions, individuals &
processes that prevent people from
engaging in behavior that could hurt their
REPUTATION & achievement.

24. Social Process Theory SELF IMAGE A strong self image deters crime.
Social Control Theory cont.
Walter Reckless (1960’s)
SELF IMAGE
A strong self image deters crime.

25. Social Process Theory Travis Hirschi (1969)
Social Control Theory cont.
Travis Hirschi (1969)
The DOMINANT version of Social
Control Theory.

26. Social Process Theory
Social Control Theory cont. (Travis Hirschi)
Social bonds (ties) such as family, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, keep people from criminal activity.

27. Social Process Theory
Social Control Theory cont. (Travis Hirschi) 4 main elements of social bonds: 1. Attachment – A persons sensitivity to & interest in others. 2. Commitment – The time experienced in conventional activities.

28. Social Process Theory
Social Control Theory cont. (Travis Hirschi) 4 main elements of social bonds: 3. Involvement – Involvement in school, work, family & recreation leaves little time for criminal activity. 4. Beliefs – Sharing common moral beliefs.

29. Social Process Theory BRANCH # 3 – SOCIAL REACTION (Labeling) THEORY
1. Behaviors considered criminal are subjective.
(prostitution, gambling, marijuana, have all been legal at one tine)

30. Social Process Theory
SOCIAL REACTION (Labeling) THEORY cont. 2. Crime is defined by those in power. 3. Criminal acts are labeled & so are people. Stigma – a strong negative label. 4. Positive & negative labels are subjective.

31. Social Process Theory
SOCIAL REACTION (Labeling) THEORY cont.
Successful Degradation Ceremonies (Harold Garfinkel )
A public ceremony in which someone's identity is redefined & destroyed

32. Social Process Theory
SOCIAL REACTION (Labeling) THEORY cont.
Individuals often assume the identity & behavior of their label.
Deviantly labeled often ban together.
Retrospective Reading – The re-assessment of a person to fit a current label.

33. Social Process Theory
SOCIAL REACTION (Labeling) THEORY cont.
Primary Deviance – A norm violation that has little influence on the actor.
Secondary Deviance – A norm violation resulting in a label.
Deviance Amplification – When a label pushes a person into an escalating cycle of deviance.