Social Process Theories include Social Learning Theory, Social Control Theory, and Labeling Theory. Social Learning Theory, proposed by Edwin Sutherland and expanded on by Albert Bandura and Ronald Akers, posits that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others and reinforced through differential association. Gerald Patterson's Social Interactional Theory focuses on the role of parenting in early childhood, finding that ineffective parenting practices like lack of supervision and inconsistent discipline can contribute to the development of antisocial behavior in children.

1. Social Process Theories
Social Learning Theory
Social Control Theory
Labeling Theory

2. Social Process
These are MICRO theories
Need both micro and macro for a “complete”
explanation of crime
Process = individual interacting with social
units or agencies over time

3. Social Learning Theory
Edwin Sutherland
Differential Association
Albert Bandura
Akers
(With Burgess) Differential Reinforcement
Social Learning Theory
Gerald Patterson
Social Interactional Theory

4. Edwin Sutherland
Degree in Sociology from the University of
Chicago (1913)
Faculty member (1930-1935)
Chicago School question: how are delinquent
cultures “transmitted” across generations?
Answer? “Differential Association”
Published and revised in his textbook from 1934-
1947

5. Differential Association
Criminal Behavior is learned
Negatively, this means it is not “invented”
Communication within intimate groups
Learning involves techniques and attitudes
Attitudes expresses as “definitions of the situation”
A person becomes delinquent because of an
“excess of definitions favorable to law violation”
The process involves the same learning
process as all other behavior

6. Differential Association
This is a GENERAL theory
Explains “white collar crimes” as well as
“street crimes”
Very abstract and vague
What are “definitions?”
What are the mechanics of learning?

7. Albert Bandura
Social Learning Theory (1973)
Pulled together principles of learning
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Vicarious learning

8. Ronald Akers
Brought differential association in line
with psychological principles of learning
Differential Reinforcement theory
Now, “Social Learning Theory”
Central Concepts
Differential Association
Attitudes Toward Crime
Reinforcement
Imitation (role modeling)

9. Testing Social Learning
Surveys: Theory tested with 2 variables
Exposure to Deviant Peers
Attitudes Favorable Towards Crime
Variables consistently predict deviance,
but causal order is questionable

10. Testing Social Learning II
Experimental Studies
Don Andrews (1980) group therapy
experiments
Token Economies
“Cognitive/Behavioral Programs”
Skills Training
Reduce “Criminal Thinking Errors”

11. Criticisms of Social Learning and
Differential Association
Where do initial “definitions” or
“techniques” come from?
Assumption about human nature
Causal ordering is backwards

12. Policy Implications
If crime is learned, it can be “unlearned”
Token Economy
Role modeling
Eliminate “rationalizations,” or “criminal
thinking errors”
Learn pro-social (competing) behaviors
Training parent’s (Patterson)
Behavior contracts

13. Gerald Patterson
Social Interactional Theory
Focus on the Early Childhood
Effective Parents:
Monitor/Supervise their child’s behavior
Recognize deviant acts
Consistently Use Rewards and Punishment, and Role
Model Positive Behaviors
Ineffective Parents:
Natter, harsh and inconsistent punishment...

14. Patterson’s Social
Interactional Theory
Parenting
Context
•SES
•Grandparent’s skill
in parenting
•Single parents
•Difficult child
Parental
Efficacy
•Supervise
•Recognize
•Punish/reward
consistently
Child’s
Antisocial
Behavior