Criminology is a fascinating field full of theories which were invented by different scholars in an attempt to explain crime and the criminal behaviors. These theories which are also known as the base theories have various branches which further tries to build on some of the logical arguments on Criminology in an attempt to make the core theories clear. At same time, some of the sub-branch of the base theories has other items which try to explain them further. This paper will be very particular and will only cover the social theories in criminal law, and will be more accurate on the social process theory and how it explains criminology. Under the social process theory, some sub-branches will be put under the microscope to make the theory more clear and easy to understand and comprehend. In this case, the paper will try to explain these theories in relation to gang violence.
Social process theory emphasizes the importance of socializing and involving with the known criminal peer within a particular group. According to Siegel (2010), criminality in regards to social process is determined by an individual’s engagement within various institutional affiliations. There are three, majors' theories or routes which the social theory branches off. The three branches are namely the social learning theory, social reaction theory and lastly, social control theory. About gangs, the social process theorist would argue that individuals end up joining gangs or associating with them because they lack good associations or real organization which can advise them on good ways or better paths to follow in life.
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The social learning branch of the social process has it that individuals or rather a human being conduct themselves illegally or criminally because that is how they were taught to behave. In this case, Taylor, Walton and Young (2013) have it that criminal behaviors are learned and assimilated through interaction with individuals who act criminally. The differential association theory which was created by the famous Edwin Sutherland falls under the social learning theory. Edwin believed that people who behave illegally or criminally did so due to the overexposure to people with bad behaviors and delinquent values. According to o the differential social theory, criminal behaviors are learned behaviors like any other activity, the techniques involved or required to commit a crime for instance violence or theft is learned. The learning process for this action is no different from the learning process for any other activity, individual perception about the ruling and the laws in the specified country plays a big part in modifying these behaviors. In this case, therefore, the differentiation association theory explains the gang violence as habits which are acquired by individual who associative with gangs in their neighborhood.
Neutralization theory is another branch of the social process theory. Bernard et al., (2010) states that this theory has it that the people who have criminal behaviors do learn these habits and the techniques which eventually give them an opportunity to offset the entire society values and go back and forth between the criminal actions and conventions. This theory has a basis which is very attractive and appealing in the criminal field. It was founded because criminals have limits, admire the law abiding citizens, have empathy and sympathy for other criminals and also can choose to obey laws and be orderly in the society. In an art shells, the neutralization theory believes that criminals often develop neutralization techniques which are simply excuses for their wrong doings. This is in turns regarded as the denial of the injustices, the denial of responsibilities and many other offences where the criminals tend to argue that they are not to be faulted for their actions. The neutralization theorist would not argue in the case of gangs or gang related violence. However, they would throw in suggestions that criminals are or gangs are capable of leaving peacefully with peers, family and members of the society without displaying their wrong side.
There is the social control theory as another branch of social process theory. This theory has it that everyone in the world have the capability to break the rules or laws, and they chose to do so based on the opportunities which are available to them in the society where they live. This theory sees the criminal behavior as something which is constrained or administered by an individual’s association with the institution affiliation or peer. Participation in the gang, therefore, can be explained using this theory as a situation which takes place due to the fact that people are not constraints or tied by any particular law or the right organization or group of individuals. Under social control, there is a social bond theory which is its sub branch. This theory has it that people become criminals when they have limited or less relationship with civilized community, or institutions. For instance, the bond theory has it that one can involve in gang violence since they have nothing, for example family, to lose.
The last sub-branch of the social process theory is what is called social reaction theory. This theory claims that in the society, certain individuals are labeled negatively by the authorities. These people are affected by this level negatively, by having a feeling that the tag they are given by the administration makes them heroes and hence start developing criminal or harmful behaviors ( Morris & Higgins, 2010). About the gang, some people are stigmatized in the society and are accused of being dangerous, to look dangerous or to live up to the expectation of the authorities, these people later joins the gang groups and become very dangerous.
References
Bernard, T. J., Snipes, J. B., & Gerould, A. L. (2010). Vold's theoretical criminology (p. 179189). New York: Oxford University Press.
Morris, R. G., & Higgins, G. E. (2010). Criminological theory in the digital age: The case of social learning theory and digital piracy. Journal of Criminal Justice , 38 (4), 470-480.
Seigel, L. (2010). Criminology: Theories, patterns, & typologies (10 th ed.). Belmont, Ca: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth
Taylor, I., Walton, P., & Young, J. (2013). The new criminology: For a social theory of deviance . Routledge.
