Social Process Theory

First lets aim in on the 3 main Social Process theories, learned, control and labeling. Learned Theory is learning deviant behavior and the process of learning conventional behavior is one in the same process. Neither criminals nor typical members of society are raised to be completely good or completely bad, neither completely deviant, or completely conforming; therefore criminals are not born and breed they are more like cultivated. Social control theory proposes that people's relationships, commitments, values and beliefs encourage them not to break the law. If moral codes are integrated into the individuals’ life, and they have a stake in their wider community, they will voluntarily limit their probability to commit deviant acts or crime. The theory seeks to understand the ways in which it is possible to reduce the likelihood of criminality developing in individuals. Finally the labeling theory “labels” the deviant acts or crimes. Socially these gives the crime or act a face which makes the offender recognizable by his other act rather than the content of their character prior to the deviant act.

Learning theory has been widely discussed in my forums, being taught to be a deviant is the basis of a criminal at its purest form. It views people's interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society; people in all walks of life have the potential to become criminals if they maintain destructive social relationships. This describes organized crime, crime families, and even singular crimes. These are taught to you at an early age or when you interact with the neighborhood thug. If you never saw a criminal you would less likely become a criminal. Dr. C.R Jeffery suggests (Jeffery, 1965) “the case of crimi...

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...hat is a choice he/she makes with the help of environment or people.” The Labeling theory is greatly debated; the offender can change if given the opportunity. It has to start after the first crime is committed. (Willam R. Downs, 1997)”Control theory implies that social services will decrease levels of deviant behavior by strengthening the bond between the adolescent and society. Labeling theory implies the reverse, that the process of formal adjudication through the juvenile court will first stabilize and then increase levels of deviant behavior. “Labeling is not the end all be all.

In conclusion the Social Process Theories are all just theories, each one has its pros and cons but each individual opinion on where crime derives from and how it continues to manifest and multiply in our lives. If you would like more information on this subject see reference material.