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Social Process Theory: Social Control Theory And Criminal Behavior

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Social process theory, or the view that people’s everyday social interactions shape their behaviors, has several subdivisions including: social control theory, social learning theory and social reaction (labeling) theory (will only focus on social control theory). Social control theory insinuates every person has the possibility of becoming a criminal, but most people are influenced by their bonds to society. It contends that individuals obey the law and are less likely to commit crime if they have: learned self-control, attachment (to family, friends, peers, education, etc.), commitment (to school, learning, etc.), involvement (in leisure activities, sports, etc.), and belief (those that are positive). According to social control theory, an …show more content…

They are more prone to deviant activities, such as drinking or consuming drugs. Attachment to deviant peers and parents (such as drunks or drug takers) could lead to an increase in the prospect of criminal activities (i.e. the case for Aaron Hernandez). Also, “increases in adolescent behavior problems, such as substance abuse, may result in decreases in parental control and support, and not vice versa” (Siegel, 2011). These are only a few ways to question the cogency of social control theory, but these fallacies illustrate why social control theory is not the only response to crime (but it may be part of it much like rational choice and trait …show more content…

Founded by Karl Marx, conflict theory conjectures that social order is sustained through wealth and power and constant class conflict (subduing the poor by keeping them away from the limited resources). The resulting conflict and inequalities between the classes result in crime, according to Marx. Social conflict theorists use the criminal justice system to support their argument. The elite class passes laws to benefit themselves (and they are also judged differently, more leniently). OJ Simpson was able to get off for the murder of Nicole Brown (the court said “he didn’t do it,” but he was able to get off because of his wealth and famous lawyers). These benefits are not accessible to the proletariat class. Just like social control theory, conflict theory may explain some aspects of crime, but not the entire

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The theory displays the idea that society isn’t an issue of race but more of the upper class having more power in ppolitics. Therefore, this theory has been used to imply that race doesn’t have a bearing on class. This is a false taking even though some blacks, Latinos, Southeast Asians have moved up to higher economic classes. In the class conflict theory, the dominant ruling class oppresses the lower class but it is all determined on class not race. Therefore, this model asserts that the capitalist should encourage racism.

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People that have gone to a good school and have a family with positive influences are less likely to engage in deviant behavior. External structures like schools, churches, clubs, police departments, keep individuals from deviating, these institutions push individuals into conforming to the norms of society. Travis Hirschi introduced four elements of social bonds: “attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief” (Vierra 2014). Reckless believed that these four components could prevent crime and deviant behaviors because they give the individual a purpose and sense of responsibility. If individuals in many of these lower income neighborhoods do not have a job and no source of steady income, then they are ever more likely to resort to deviant behaviors in order to attain the means of survival.

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Simpson. First, social control theory is, “a perspective that predicts that when social constrains on antisocial behaviors are weakened or absent, delinquent behaviors emerges” (Schmalleger, 2014). In the case of Simpson, prosecutors may say because of Simpsons’ jealous nature seeing Nicole Brown with Ronald Goldman may have caused Simson to commit the murder and break social norms. Second, self-control theory, “approach sees the root cause of crime as a person’s inability to exercise socially appropriate controls over himself or herself” (Schmalleger, 2014). In the case of Simpson, people may say Simpson had no self-control that his emotions overpowered his

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Karl Max developed conflict theory that suggests that people are in competition with one another over resources, power, and inequality. The criminal law aspect of the theory can be defined as a theory that assumes that society is based primarily on conflict between competing interest groups and that criminal law and the criminal justice system are used to control subordinate groups (Bohm & Haley, 2009). Examples of the competition between groups can include but not be limited to the rich against the poor, management against labor, whites against minorities, men against women, and adults against children (Bohm & Haley, 2009). Conflict theorists assert that social order is maintained by authority backed by the use of force (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2006). They assert that the privileged classes hold legal power and use the legal system to make others obey their will.

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Case Study #1 1. What question was the author was trying to answer or what problem was the focus of the study/research? The author was trying to pinpoint the difference between women and men when it came to incarceration and how rural areas can affect incarceration rate. They wanted to know if the feminization of poverty and capitalist exploitation will increase women convictions throughout Kentucky counties in order to socially control women. 2.

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This theory is also based upon four concepts or elements found with social bonds: attachment, commitment, belief, and involvement, all of which contribute to criminal behavior. Social bonds are the interpersonal relationships we form with family, teachers, friends, employers and even neighbors. Self-control also plays a part in this theory because if a person does not possess self-control, the person is more prone to engaging in criminal activity because they do not want to violate social norms or hurt others. The stronger these elements are; the less likely criminal behavior takes

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For social control theory, the underlying view of human nature includes the conception of free will, thereby giving offenders the capacity of choice, and responsibility for their behavior. As such, social control theory is aligned more with the classical school of criminology than with positivist or determinist

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Why did Mr. Hernandez turn to crime, even though he shouldn’t be a criminal, according to social control theory? Though this theory formulates some valid arguments, it does not tell the whole story when it comes to crime.

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Criminology uses many theories to study crime, such as Social bond theory, Control theory social, containment theory etc. Social bond theory includes a various forms of social attachment theories. Attachment is a complicated process starting at birth with a maternal connection. This premature form of joint sets the standard for an individual's future attachments to friends, family members, co-workers and lovers. Control theory suggests a responsibility towards one's behavior.

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Theories are used every day to try and explain how something works or even why it works that way. In criminology, theories are constantly being created and used to help explain many things such as why crime occurs. Social structural theories specifically are used to explain how the organization of society affects why people commit crime and social process theories focus on the social relationships and interactions of people and how that leads to committing crime or not. One sub theory of social structural theory is the general strain theory created by criminologist Robert Agnew which explains that there are multiple sources of strain, such as the loss of loved on, that can lead to crime. A sub theory for social process theory is the social learning theory, created by Ronald Akers, that focuses on punishment and reinforcement and how that leads to criminal behavior.

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Social learning theory and social bonding theory are two theories that may be compared and contrasted because they both overlap and differ. Although these theories have their similarities and differences, one theory may prove to be more convincing in terms of applying the theory to the understanding of crime and delinquency. Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association theory, which had nine propositions outlining the process by which individuals acquire attitudes favorable to criminal or delinquent behavior with the basic idea that people tend to associate with others in which they come into contact.

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Classical marxists believe that capitalism itself is a crime and it also causes a crime. They believe capitalism is based on oppression and economic exploitation of the majority. As far as crime, they believe people are more enticed to commit crimes as a result of inequality and poverty. As our world changes, the effects from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels will forever live on in philosophy and the criminal justice

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Which gave the higher class and the Marxists the way of thinking the lower class people would make all the crimes. The only time they would be treated at the higher level is when they were offered money. For instance, when Dounia is with Luzhin and the only reason why she would marry is for the money and he treats her in the higher class by saying she would be the most dependable wife compared to anyone else. Even when Svidrigailov’s wife dies and he gets all her money, knowing what he did to Dounia when he tries to sleep with her and force her to marry him, he offers her so much money only to marry him and not do anything but basically be a housewife. She gets treated as the higher class that way but getting the money and not having to do anything but be a

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The Social Learning Theory (SLT) maintains that children develop patterns of violent or delinquent behavior through imitation. For instance, if a child is being beaten at home, then the child will revert to doing so to other children at school. The Social Control Theory (SCT) says that individuals have a natural tendency towards crime and violence

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responsibility of the individual committing or partaking in the crime. Though this is a common thought it is simply untrue because it eliminates many of the social and environmental factors that encourage deviant behavior. The truth is, society plays a significant role in whether or not deviant behavior stops or continues for a specific individual who has already committed a crime. Ideas and concepts under the Labeling theories emphasis society’s roles and states that, “efforts [of] social control (…) ultimately trigger processes that trap individuals in criminal careers” (Cullen, Agnew & Wilcox 2014). Essentially, society forces invasive labels and social reactions that then cause many Individuals with criminal past to create self-fulfilling

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