Week 8: Social Process Theories Flashcards
What are the main principles of social process theories?
- Criminal Behaviour is not innate; it is learned through interaction with others.
- Group membership influences one’s socialization
- Important groups include family, peers, and work associates
- People with weak ties to prosocial groups and strong ties with antisocial groups will be socialized by those with antisocial groups (you are more socialized by the groups you have stronger connections with.
What is Differential Association Theory?
Comes from Sutherland and is a type of social learning theory which was intended to react against biological and psychological theories of the time.
Under differential association theory, all behaivour, including criminal, is learned behaviour. When we interact with other people, we learn techniques and attitudes for criminality.
The extent to which we are impacted by other people depends on how close we are with them and how much we value them. The influence of our associations can vary based on
- Frequency –> How often we are in contact
- Duration –> how long we are in contact
- Priority –> how early in life we established the contact
- Intensity –> how much we value the relationship
Family, peers, and friends are the biggest influences.
What is Neutralization?
Neutralization techniques are an expansion off of differential association theory. Neutralization is the rationalization and justifications that are used to explain criminal and/or anti-social behaviour. There are five types of neutralization techniques
- Denying responsibility: “its not my fault!”
- Denying injury: “they’ll never even notice”
- Denying the victim: “they deserved it!”
- Condemning the condemners “the government are the real theifs here!”
- Appealing to higher loyalties: “they insulted my girlfriend, I had to show them who’s boss”
How do neutralization techniques affect offender attitudes towards the victim?
Leads to offenders blaming the victim (e.g. they provoked me, they deserved it etc.)
Leads to a skewed sense of responsibility in that the offender might be responsible for some part of the crime but they deny responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Leads to an exaggeration of the harm done to the offender and a diminishment of the harm done to the victim (i.e. it wasn’t that bad for them, I’m the one who had to go do jail.)
What is Labeling Theory?
A type of social process theory
It occurs after someone has done a single harmful act and then gets labeled by society as a bad person, or a criminal. This label then overtakes their identity and they become a product of that single act. It leads to further criminal activity because it acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy where the person lives out the identity that has been applied to them. They become stigmatized and rejected which can increase negative behaviour. Labeling also limits their options for the future (e.g. employment, housing) because they are perceived only through the lens of that label. Limited options may push the individial back towards criminal behavior.
Why do people do the right thing most of the time (according to Hirschi)? What then pushes people towards more criminal behaviour?
When people feel like they belong (have a sense of attachment) to prosocial groups, they will learn positive behaviours from that group.
When people have strong attachments, they have more to lose (e.g. employment, marriage, friends, reputation, security)
People who have weak attachments and a lower sense of belonging then are more likely to offend.
What is Containment theory?
By Walter Reckless.
It is the theory that there are external and internal forces which can either stabilize or destabilize a person.
External forces are those which exist outside of a person, e.g. having a stable family home can reduce the chance of engaging in criminal activity
Internal forces are those which exist inside of a person, e.g. having a positive self image can reduce the chances of engaging in criminal activity.
What is Social Bond Theory?
By Hirschi
This theory suggests that successful socialization creates positive social bonds which are characterized by the following four principles:
1. Attachment: bonds which have a shared common interest, a sense of connection with others, or a sense of belonging
2. Commitment: an investment of time and effort into prosocial activities with other people
3. Involvement: how much time is spent in a meaningful role
4. Belief: shared values and morals.
These forms of social bonds reduce the likelihood of engaging in criminal activity because criminal activity puts them at risk of losing these bonds and that sense of belonging.
What is the general basis for control theory? What are the types of controls?
The general basis for control theory is that people with low self-control and high impulsivity are at a higher risk for criminal behaviour, especially when the low control is accompanied by anti-social attitudes.
There are two types of controls:
1. Formal Social controls - institutions such as the criminal justice system, police, schools, government ministries (social services) etc.
- Informal social controls: the connections and bonds you have with other people which motivates you to prosocial behaivour because you don’t want to let them down or hurt them.
What is Hirschi and Geoffredson’s General Theory of Crime?
The key idea of this theory is that crime is a natural consequence of unrestrained human tendencies to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
Low self control and impulsivity are the cause of most crime and offenders tend to operate on very short term thinking (e.g. no deleyed gratification). Since self-control forms in early childhood, parents are key in preventing crime
What is the general idea behind social development theories?
Socialization is only one part of what causes criminality. Our development across the life course affects our likelihood of offending . This is why criminality occurs more at certain life stages then others.
As such, throughout life it is important to: develop a positive identity, have good relationships, develop a value system, get an education, develop a sense of identity, and contribute meaningfully to your community (often through employment.)
