3.8: Social Process
- Page ID
- 47908
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Social Process
Social process theorists point to data that supports the conclusion that criminal activity is found in all strata of society not just amongst the lower-class. They theorize that one thing that is common to all social classes is the idea of socialization experiences. We all learn as we grow up. Their theories suggest that whether one turns to crime as they grow up or stays away from it, depends in large part on the quality of their socialization experiences.
Learning Theory
A theorist by the name of an Edwin Sutherland developed the idea of Differential Association. According to Sutherland the difference in whether we turn to crime or not is largely based on who we associate with and if those people communicate that crime is a good thing or if those people frown upon criminal activity. This difference may explain why crime rates are high among young people who may communicate with each other and various crimes like underage drinking are okay whereas when people get older and want to keep their jobs the communication is that you must stay away from crime.
My some theorized that most people feel a bond with society. We want to be accepted by society and therefore with our society’s rules. However, some people learn to neutralize these moral constraints to be good which then allows them to commit delinquent or criminal activities. It is important to understand that these neutralizations are how some people look at the world, they do not just say this as a handy excuse after-the-fact. These “techniques of neutralization” include:
- denying responsibility—someone else should have taken care of it then it's not your fault
- denying injury—if no one is really hurt, like driving with no license then that's okay
- denying a victim—if there is no victim, for instance if they want to drink underage
- condemning the condemners—if the store charges such high prices, they are the thieves
- appeal to higher loyalties -my friends wanted me to do it.
Control Theory
Travis Hirschi theorized that once bond with society was very important in keeping them away from criminal activity. If one had a strong bond with society they could benefit from what society had taught for such as with jobs, membership on a team, and future educational goals. He theorized that if the bond was broken that was when people would engage in deviance. He also theorized that there are different levels of the bond. The first level he called Attachment. One of the first things about being involved with society you join or become attached to a group or element in society. The next level is Commitment. By understanding the rules of the group and still choosing to be a part of it shows commitment. The third level is Involvement. Going beyond being just a member of actually contributing through your effort and time choose involvement. The final level is Belief. When you feel that you have benefited from being a part of the group and you believe that so strongly that you recruit new members you definitely have a strong bond.
Labeling
Some theorists suggest that society tends to label individuals, particularly those individuals that do not have much power in society. If you think about it you probably know some groups that were labeled in high school. Typically labels from society are not positive and if one believes the label that is put upon them they often act out which can result in crime. If someone is called something negative often enough, often that person will believe it. If someone is called delinquent, even when they’re not, after a period of time they may become one.
Image 3.13