ch. 7: social process theories

socialization

the process through which we learn the skills, knowledge, values, motives, and roles of the groups we belong to and communities we live

effect of socialization

people can be socialized to conform or to violate norms and values

differential association theory and neutralization theory

the social learning theories

containment, social bonding, and self-control theory

the social control theories

social process theory

argument that crime is the product of learning the norms, values, and behaviors associated with crime. involves techniques and psychological aspects.

edwin sutherland, 1947

creator of differential association theory and when it was discovered

differential association theory

theory that says people commit crime when their social learning leads them to perceive more definitions favoring crime than favoring conventional (non-criminal) behavior

sykes and matza, 1957 and 1964

creators of neuralization theory and when it was discovered

neutralization theory

theory that says law violates must learn techniques than enable them to neutralize guilt before they are free to commit crime. individuals drift back and forth between illegitimate and conventional behavior.

techniques of neutralization

denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victim, condemning the condemner, and appeal to higher loyalties

social control theories

type of theory that assumes all individuals have potential to violate the law and that society presents many opportunities to do so. asks why people do not commit crime instead of why they do. argues that people obey the law because behavior and passions are controlled. the root cause of deviant behavior is the absence of social controls.

walter reckless, 1961 and 1967

containment theory creator and years it was executed

containment theory

theory that focuses on how individuals who face social pressures to commit crime fail to resist the pressures

pushes

experiences, personal characteristics that increase vulnerability to crime

pulls

perceived rewards of engaging in crime

outer containments

“watchful eyes” around us that we take into consideration before we decide to commit crime

inner containments

ability of a person to follow expects norms; comes from within

travis hirschi, 1969

creator of social bonding theory and year it was founded

social bonding theory

theory that assumes all individuals are potential law violators — but most are kept under control due to strong social bonds

social bonds

ties that bind people to society

attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief

four types of social bonds

attachment

social bond that consistently has the strongest support

gottfredson and hirschi, 1990

people who came up with self-control theory and when

self control theory

theory that argues that individuals with low self-control are more likely to commit criminal/analogous behaviors

8-10

self control develops around these ages

howard becker and frank tanenbaum, 1960s

creators of labeling theory and year it was made

labeling theory

also known as social reaction theory, argues that crime is a label attached to individuals by those in power

primary deviance

an offender’s initial act of violating the law (quickly forgotten)

secondary deviance

a norm violation/crime that is known and a negative label is applied

deviance amplification

when secondary deviance pushes offenders out of mainstream society and locks them into an escalating cycle of crime

diversion

designed to remove the negative effects of labeling, prevents youth/adults offenders from being formally processed through the criminal justice system