Lesson 7 – Social Process
Theories
Robert Wonser
Introduction to Criminology
Crime and Delinquency
1
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
19
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
23
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 lifecourse?
• Assumption that all crime is spontaneous
and unskilled