Social Process Perspective Flashcards
What do social process theories propose?
They assert that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with others and that the socialization processes that occur as a result of group membership are the primary route through which learning occurs.
- Theories who support this believe that criminal behavior is learned from groups around you that you are socialized in. These include family, peer groups, and work associates. - People with weak ties to prosocial groups and strong ties with antisocial groups will be socialized by those antisocial groups.
What did social process theories reject?
They rejected the idea that someone is born criminal and rejected genetic ideas of criminal behavior organization.
What is the key idea of neutralization techniques?
criminals learn the techniques and attitudes of criminal behavior from others. They rationalize and justify their actions through “neutralization.”
Describe the main points of differential association theory
• Believed that all criminal behavior was learned behavior.
• People that the criminal is in relation with become “teachers” of crime.
• Attitudes and behaviors have to be unraveled and changed during jail.
• Interactions with others in which techniques of crime are taught. Those already criminal become “teachers” to others.
• People are most influenced by those close to them, and those important to them.
Family members, peers, friends often are these “teachers” because of the power and influence in this relationships.
Name some “techniques of crime”
How to break into a house, obtain and use illicit drugs, engage in the sex trade, how to shoplift, etc.
Describe the four key points of differential association theory (FDPI)
Frequency - the more often person A interacts with deviant group, the more often he is likely to learn their deviant behavior.
Duration - length of time that this person interacts with deviant people. Length of interactions influences the likelihood of learning that behavior.
Priority - how early in life did this person first encounter criminal behavior. Priority = the age of first encounter. For example, Rick grew up in home where he was exposed to criminal activity from birth. The earlier this happens, the greater the effects.
Intensity - How much this relationship is valued by the person and the intensity and saturation of criminal messaging that has impact on the person. If the techniques of crime are accompanied by antisocial attitudes and beliefs, and rewards from crime are evident, then the “student” will likely pick up the criminal behaviors from the “teacher.” Goes back to rational choice theory (are the consequences of the crime less than the benefits of the crime?)
What does neutralization refer to?
- Social learning says that criminal behavior is learned through the mastery of techniques, values, and attitudes needed to commit criminal acts.
- “Neutralization” refers to the rationalizations and justifications that offenders use to allow themselves to go against conventional values and moral principles.
- Minimize impact on victim. “It’s okay, this business has insurance.
5 types of justifications 1. Denying responsibility 2. Denying injury 3. Denying the victim 4. Condemning the condemners. Appealing to higher loyalties.
Name some of the limitations of social learning theory.
- It discounts the impact of biology and inherited tendencies (FASD), and it discounts the impact of personality traits on how a person will interact with his/her environment.
- People are independent and individually motivated, so they may not always become criminals in the way the theory predicts. The theory doesn’t take into account those individual differences.
- How do you explain someone who becomes criminal when no one in their immediate sphere is criminal? (Rick’s sister, for example)
Explain some of the main points of labelling theory
- Doesn’t explain how they first got on the criminal pathway, but explains what happens afterwards.
- The person who has done the offense has become a “bad” person, a “criminal.” Stigmatizing behavior ends up overtaking other aspects of their identity.
- From the community’s point of view, the individual who used to do bad or harmful things has now become a bad person, no longer redeemable
- It stigmatizes and labels the person as a criminal, which overtakes other aspects of their identity
- Contact with Criminal Justice System (CJS) can make things worse
Why does labelling theory matter?
This relates to how society relates to deviant behavior, and people who break the law, or who violate other social norms.
• Society’s response to these “rule-breakers” can have a huge impact on the person’s future.
It can contribute to a heightened crime rate because legitimate options are reduced for this
How can labelling have an impact on the offender?
• Label of “rulebreaker” can have huge impact on person’s future. May also increase criminal behavior of that person and reduce legitimate options, such as finding a place to live.
• Person realizes that no one wants them and cannot make it past barriers because of a society that rejects them.
• Only criminals or marginalized individuals like themselves will associate with them.
• Sense of rejection can increase negative behaviors (this is why media don’t name youth - they don’t want to stigmatize and label them when they still have time to change)
Only illegal opportunities remain to meet their needs, resulting in “secondary deviance”
What is moral enterprise? How can this create new labels?
Moral enterprise is the efforts made by an interest group to have its sense of propriety enacted into law (for example, legalizing marijuana in Canada).
• Previously forbidden behaviors become approved: e.g. smoking marijuana, same sex relationships, euthanasia and assisted suicide, etc.
• This can help those who were previously labelled as deviant or socially undesirable, and give them a positive identity.
• This can create new negative labels for those who don’t belong to the special interest group and don’t agree with them.
Part of our current political landscape is the significant use of negative labels and name-calling that goes between opposing groups.
Briefly touch on some of the points of reintegrative shaming
- Stigmatizing and shaming people with damaging labels weakens/destroys the moral bond between the offender and the community.
- In contrast, reintegrative shaming acknowledges the wrongful act and the harm it caused, while also affirming the worth of the person who did it. They are valued, they are wanted. Community doesn’t see them as dispensable.
Community wants them to learn, to make amends, and be rehabilitated so they won’t re-offend, and return to their rightful place as a community member without feeling stigmatized or rejected.
Explain why most people do the right thing most of the time.
• Attachment and a sense of belonging have a profound effect. People need strong attachment to prosocial institutions and groups to learn positive behaviors.
• Weak attachments to prosocial institutions and groups is a risk factor for offending.
• Those with low sense of belonging and attachment have less to lose.
People with strong attachment have more to lose: employment, status, marriage, reputation, self-respect, financial security, etc.
Explain Reckless’s containment proposition of external and internal forces.
• External forces that stabilize and prevent individuals from engaging in crime/deviance, i.e., presence of police, criminal justice system, power of family, school, etc.
Internal forces that help stabilize: positive self-image, prosocial life goals, commitment to relationship/marriage, tolerance for frustration (can delay gratification), general commitment to values of society, having a moral compass. “I’m not that kind of person”
