Intro to Criminology / Section 6 Social Process Theory

primary deviance

In labeling theory, the initial nonconforming act that comes to the attention of the authorities resulting in the application of a criminal label

SLT focuses in 4 principles

* Differential Association * Differential Reinforcement * Imitation *Definitions

Social Learning (Strength)

Adds powerful concepts of operant psychology to explain how people learn criminal behavior. links sociology to psychology

positive reinforcement

The private property from a robbery or status achieved by facing down rivals.

social control theory

theory that explains deviance as the result of the weakening of social bonds

Evaluation of social learning theory

+explains how behaviors are passed on through generations +well represented through research studies +made us aware of our responsibility as adults to model appropriate behavior to children +mirror neurons - neurons that become active when you watch actions completed by others -oversimplifies behavior (there are other factors)

Evaluation of Social Control

-Given the emphasis on parental guidance int eh development of self-control, many criminologist have wondered why the four elements of the social bond are all but absent in self control theory. -Both theories assume a natural inclination to pursue selfish interests with as little effort as possible and without regard for other, and both maintain that what distinguishes law-abiding people from criminals are the control that prevent the former from acting on their natural impulses.

The Debt ( DAT) can be seen in 4 principles said to affect the individual probability of committing law violation.

1. He or she differentially associates with others who commit, model and support violations of social and legal norm. Differential Association 2. The Violative behavior is differentially reinforced over behavior in conformity to the norm. (Differential reinforcement) 3. he or she is more exposed to and observes more deviant than conforming models. ( Imitation) 4. his or her own Leaned definitions are favorable toward committing the deviant acts. ( Excess of definition)

Four Elements of the social Bond

1.Attachment 2.Commitment 3.Involvement 4.belief

Social Bonding Theory

A control theory that states that individuals will commit criminal or delinquent acts when their ties (bonds) to society are weakened or have broken. There are four types of bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. When the bonds are strong, an individual will refrain from criminal activity.

cognitive dissonance

A form of psychological discomfort that ensues when people do something they know that they should not, but they do it anyway because they find it rewarding.

Symbolic Interaction

A perspective in sociology that focuses on how people interpret and define their social reality and the meanings they attach to it in the process if interacting with one another via language (symbols).

punishment

A process that leads tot he weakening or eliminating of the behavior preceding it and reduces the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Discrimination

A term applied to stimuli that provide clues that signal whether a particular behavior is likely to be followed by reward or punishment.

social learning theory

A theory Designed to explain how people learn criminal behavior using the psychological principles of operant condition.

differential reinforcement

Behavior is reinforced by being either rewarded or punished while interacting with others; also called direct conditioning. The only concept contained in SLT is: (DR)

differential association theory (DAT)

Criminological theory devised by Edwin Sutherland (1939) asserting that criminal behavior is behavior is behavior learned through Association with others who communicate their values and attitudes.

Not contain in Differential Reinforcement

Differential Association Theory (DAT)

differential association (Strength)

Explain the onset of offending and the power of peer pressure.

Labeling (Strengths)

Explains consequences of labeling with a "master status" Identifies the social construction of crime and points to the power of some (the powerful) to criminalize

Opportunity

In self-control theory., opportunity refers to a situation conductive to antisocial behavior presenting itself to a person with low self-control. Low self-control and a criminal opportunity are necessary for crime to occur.

Belief

In the Social Theory , belief is one of the four social bonds. it refers to the ready acceptance of the correctness of prosocial values and attitudes.

Involvement

In the social control theory, Involvement is one of the four social bonds. it refers to a pattern of involvement in conventional activities that prevents one's involvement in criminal activities.

Gottfredson and Hirshi's low self-control Theory

Moved away from explaining crime and delinquency in terms of social control and moved toward explaining it in terms of self control.

social learning (weaknesses)

Neglects individual differences affecting what is reinforcing to whom and the ease or difficulty with which one learns.

differential association (Weaknesses)

Neglects possibility of like seeking ( birds of a feather) does not make distinction between private accepters and temporary compliers.

social bonding (weaknesses )

Neglects structural variables contributing to family instability and to loss of occupational opportunities. Neglects differences in the ease with which attachment is achieved.

Commitment

One of the fours social bonds in the social bonding theory; the rational component of conformity referring to a lifestyle in which one has invested considerably time and energy in the pursuit of a lawful career.

Differential social Organization

Phrase used by Edwin Sutherland to describe lower-class neighborhoods that others saw as disorganized or pathological.

Travis Hirschi

Social Bond Theory

Evaluation of differential association theory

Strength: > A strength is that it can predict why offenders who been in prison go on to offend once released. This occurs due to whilst the prisoner is inside, more experienced prison inmates will teach specific techniques of offending to others. This may make the offender gear to put into practice theses new skills, causing them to reoffend once released. This supports the theory as it shows how learning pro-crime attitudes and specific criminal acts can cause an offender to re-offend. This increases the ecological validity of the theory as its able to explain realise scenarios. Weaknesses: > The theory does not take into consideration individual differences. Not eveyerone who is exposed to criminal influences goes on to commit crime. There is a danger within the theory of stereotyping individuals who come from impoverished, crimine-ridden backgrounds as unavoidable criminals. The theory ignores the fact that people may choose not to offend despite such influences. This is a limitation as it could lead to groups of individuals being subject to stereotyping when it may not be true, this could have an impact on their lives. > There is a difficulty in testing the theory. As it is hard to measure accurately how many times an individual is exposed to pro-criminal attitudes. Due to the theory being based on the idea that a person becomes a criminal when the number of pro-criminal attitudes out weighs the anti-criminal attitudes. It lacks reliability as it cannot be accurately tested. This is a limitation of the theory as it means that its based on assumptions and not facts.

Social process criminologist operate from a Social perspective known as

Symbolic Interaction

Definitions

Term used by Edwin Sutherland to refer to meanings our experiences have for us, our attitudes, values, and habitual ways by juveniles.

Self Control

The extent to which a person is vulnerable to the temptations of the moment.

social control

any action on the part of others. deliberate or not, that facilitates conformity to social rules.

Assumption of social learning theory

are Identical to those of DAT in that it maintains that the same learning process (normal, everyday process) produces both conforming and deviant behavior.

Sykes and matza five techniques of neutralization

denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners, appeal to higher loyalties

secondary deviance

deviance that results from society's reaction to offenders' primary deviance

Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers

differential association reinforcement theory

Reinforcement

either positive or negative. / A process that leads to the strengthening of behavior.

self-concept

how people view themselves. In containment theory, it is an important source of social control.

self-contol (Strengths)

identifies a single measurable trait as responsable for many antisocial behaviors. Accords well with the impulsive nature of most criminal behavior. links sociology to psychology.

Sykes and Matza's Neutralization Theory

is a leaning theory that attacks DAT's failure to explain why some people drift in and out of crime rather than maintain consistently criminal behavior.

The role of opportunity

low-self steam is not sufficient, in itself, to account for offending.

Attachment

one of the four social bonds in social bonding theory; the emotional component of conformity refers to ones attachment to others and to social institutions.

Ronald Akers

social learning theory (SLT)

techniques of neutralization

techniques by which offenders justify their behavior as "acceptable" on a number of grounds

positive punishment

the application of something undesirable, such as a prison term.

Differential reinforcement

the balance of anticipated or actual rewards and punishments that follow or are consequences of behavior

social bonding (strength)

the most popular and empirically supported theory. Emphasizes importance of the family and provides workable policy recommendations.

negative reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus

negative punishment

the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior's recurring

operant psychology

theory of learning that asserts behavior is governed by its consequences (Reinforced or Punishment)