Social Process Theories for Delinquency

Historical Background These theories reached their zenith in the 1960’s Self-report studies were revealing that crime was not limited to lower class It became necessary to develop a theory that could account for middle class crime as well.

General Assumptions Begin with the assumption that anyone is capable of committing a crime. Argue that delinquency can be explained by the nature of socialization experiences of individuals Hence, they tend to focus on the immediate social milieu of the individual--e.g., family, peer group, etc. As such they focus on the process of becoming delinquent

Types of Social Process Theories Two broad types of process theories: Social Learning Theories Social Control Theories

Social Process Theories I: Social Learning Theories

Social Learning Theories General Features Children are not born with a tendency to want to do bad Delinquency is a function of learning the norms, values and behaviors associated with delinquency Without opportunities to learn the values and techniques associated with delinquency, individuals would not become delinquent

Differential Association Theory Developed by Edwin Sutherland The theory: Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons Principle part of learning takes place in intimate personal groups Learning includes: techniques of committing the crime and the drives, values and motives Direction of drives and motives determined by relative “definitions” (influences) favorable or unfavorable to law violation One becomes delinquent because of excess definitions favorable to violating the law Differential associations vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. Process of learning delinquency involves same process as any other learning Edwin Sutherland

Differential Reinforcement Theory Developed by Ron Akers Represents a synthesis between differential association and operant conditioning The theory: Behavior is reinforced with positive rewards Rewards are given and evaluated in interaction with significant others Hence, the kinds of behavior that are reinforced depend on one’s differential associations Ron Akers

Drift and Neutralization Theory The Drift Hypothesis Delinquents do not strictly adhere to delinquent cultural values, but are affected by both criminal and conventional values Hence, delinquents find themselves in “drift” between the two sets of values Subculture of delinquency provides the delinquent with a vocabulary to neutralize the demands of conventional society Techniques of Neutralization Denial of responsibility Denial of injury Denial of victim Condemnation of condemner Appeal to higher loyalties Gresham Sykes

Social Process Theories II: Social Control Theories

General Assumptions Human beings are predisposed toward maximizing self-interest Hence, everyone has the capacity to commit crime Most people don’t commit crime because of constraining influences Hence, what is to be explained is not “Why do some people engage in delinquency?” but “Why do most people not engage in delinquency?”

Containment Theory Developed by Walter Reckless The Theory “Pressures” and “pulls” toward delinquency are everywhere Counteracting these pressures and pulls are “containments” of which there are two types: outer containments--structural buffers, such as intact family, positive discipline, etc. inner containments--internalized values, high frustration tolerance, etc. Reckless identified a positive self concept as the critical containment insulating against delinquency. Walter Reckless

Social Bond Theory Developed by Travis Hirschi The Theory: Assumes that all people have the capacity to be delinquent Preventing most people from engaging in delinquency is a “bonding” to conventional society Hirschi identifies 4 elements to the social bond (next slide)

The Social Bond