Proponents and Theorists
This white-collar criminologist is the father of social learning theory
Who is Edwin Sutherland?
The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society
What is socialization?
Labeling theory inspired these types of programs for youth offenders
What are diversion programs?
One main issue with social reaction theory
What are
Failure to explain differences in crime rates – not all people labelled commit crime the same way or in the same amount of time
Ignores the onset of deviant behavior (during primary deviance)
Law is differentially constructed and applied, depending on the offenders (White vs Black felons)
Inability to specify the conditions the must exist before an act or individual is labeled
If family relations and parental monitoring are so important to deterring criminal behavior, should we place most of the blame for delinquency on the parents? Why or why not? Provide example.
YES, because they are the main source of socialization and the most constant throughout a child's life
NO, because there are other areas of socialization children should be able to pull from to learn legitimate behaviors.
This social control theorist recently died in 2017
Who is Travis Hirschi?
The theory that everyone has the potential to become a criminal, but most people are controlled by their connection to society
What is social control theory?
This tactic stemmed from the 1980s shift to getting tough on crime and deterrence. It is the process of policy changes that result in a greater number of individuals being caught by the criminal justice system than before.
What is net widening?
Reason why belief is such a controversial element of bonding theory
What is belief differs from person to person and is subjective?
Discuss the three main theories under the social process approach
Social Learning: argues that some people learn to commit crimes through the same process through which others learn to conform.
Social Control: bonds to society prevent individuals from committing crime
Social Reaction: concentrate on those people or institutions who label offenders, react to offenders, and want to control offender
A sociologist, who believes that individuals base their sense of self on how they believe others view them
Who is Charles Cooley?
The process in which people learn
What is differential association
Linking the Interest of Families and Teachers (LIFT) was implement using this theory
What is social learning theory?
Two main issues with social learning theory
What are:
Learning theories fail to explain how the first criminal learned the necessary techniques and definitions of crime
Learning of some criminality frequently occurs after one has committed the first criminal act
Everyone has different definitions and acquire them at different rates
Fails to explain spontaneous offending (i.e. rage and property damage)
Explain how one's socialization contributes to crime. Provide three examples.
Families pass on many things to their children, including:
Peer groups affect children's interests, speech patterns, beliefs about the world, and approaches to a variety of situations. Children who regularly interact with their peers in positive ways tend to develop robust social skills and may have a clearer sense of their place in their own society.
Many aspects of school can be positive in terms of socialization: children learn social skills, independence, and time management techniques that will remain useful in the future.
Religion offers a giving meaning and purpose to life; reinforces social unity and stability; serves as an agent of social control of behavior; promotes physical and psychological well-being; and motivates people to work for positive social change.
This individual believes that in order for society to prosper we must de-dramatize stigma
Who is Frank Tannenbaum?
In most societies of different languages, modern cultures, and people, the color red indicates a vehicle should stop. This process is known as --
What is symbolic interactionism?
This policy model focused on a family environment rather than a peer environment in the 1970s
What is the Teaching Family Model?
Age/Crime relationship issue with self control theory
What are:
If self control theory was valid, and is stable at age 7, we would see more continuous offending through the life course and people being unable to desist from crime
Individual differences in the propensity to offend remain stable over time
Regardless of initial starting point, everyone slows down with age
What are the steps to the labeling process? Provide an example
What is:
1. Prior to labeling an individual's deviance is infrequent, inconsistent, etc.
2. They are then caught, punished and stigmatized
3. During this time societal reaction may alter their self concept and cause them to start a more stable criminal career
4. The following criminal acts are called secondary deviance and are the result of the label
This theorist once said, "deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather the consequences of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an offender"
Who is Howard Becker?
The three necessary conditions to develop high self control in youths?
What is:
1.Parent must care for child
2.Parent must notice delinquent behavior
3.Parent must punish that deviant behavior once see
Main issues with the Pinehill's social learning experiment using a semi residential environment for juveniles on probation
What is judge’s discretion showing non-randomization and loss of funding?
Other than belief, these are two other issues regarding social bonding theory.
What are:
Commitment and Involvement are the same concept
Crime takes a small fraction of time outside of conventional activities – unclear of how people drift
Research shows the relationship between commitment and belief are insignificant
Some people are very involved and not attached
Deviant peers and parents: Some people are very attached to deviant peers
Restricted in scope: May not explain all modes of criminality
Change bonds: Bonds seem to change over time
Maxwell has been convicted of robbery. What kind of punishment would social control theorists suggest? Give example.
Bond policy attempts to increase an individuals attachment to conventional activities/institutions
Job training and family counseling
Less reliance on incarceration
Use of community based punishment