Free Essay

Social Theory

In:

Submitted By Storm800
Words 973
Pages 4
Social Process and Social Development Theory Paper
Jason Mitchell
CJA/314
February 16, 2013
Judy Marchand

Social Process and Social Development Theory Paper Many people often wonder about the reasons that criminals commit such violent acts and if the crime could have been prevented by noticing warning signs of deviant behavior. The video chosen for this paper was Tent City Arizona. “The Tents Jail was begun in 1993 when Sheriff Joe Arpaio was able to obtain some surplus military tents. These tents were set up in an area adjacent to one of the existing Maricopa County Jails in Phoenix, Arizona. Sheriff Arpaio had previously decided that he would not release any inmates due to jail overcrowding, and housing sentenced inmates in the tents seemed a good solution.” (http://www.mcso.org/JailInformation/TentCity.aspx) Most inmates that have served time in Tent City has learned valuable lessons and do not return to jail. The inmates are required to work for their meals. When criminals are sentenced to be incarcerated in jail or prison, society expects them to pay for their crimes and not live a luxury lifestyle while serving out their time. In many institutions around the United States it may seem as if the inmates are living the dream. They have the taxpayers supporting them. The inmates have a roof over their heads, no bills to pay, cable television, and three meals a day to eat. So what type of message is this actually sending the criminals? In the criminals mind they have nothing to lose only a better lifestyle in jail. Inmates may not want to make a change for the better. “In Maricopa County Arizona, Everyone in Tent City has to work either on a chain gang, in one of the jail-support facilities such as the kitchen, or at jobs in the community through work-release and furlough programs. Those who choose not to work are housed in traditional jail cells.” ( http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/08/03/20110803sheriff-arpaio-tent-city-turns-18.html) Inmates are required to wear pink boxers, which can be humiliating for male inmates. Every day is a battle for the law enforcement officers that are in charge of watching these inmates. Law enforcement also has a bond with the men and women they work with. Law enforcement officers are like a family and watch each other’s backs very closely on the streets and in the jail settings. Inmates are able to socialize with each other. Often they form bonds with each other once they know they can trust you. Usually the inmates will stick together and take up for each other. An example is if you were in a gang and another member of that same gang is in jail with them, then those members will be there to watch each other’s back. Basically the inmates have to work their sentence off and pay for their bologna sandwiches. Working on the chain gangs will change an inmate’s behavior to where they will adapt to a new lifestyle and not go out and reoffend upon their release. This helps lower the recidivism rates. Social influence between the inmates may have a positive or negative effect on the behavior of some inmates. The strength that social pressure has on an individual can be broken down into three types of social pressure such as conformity, compliance and obedience. An example of conformity is teenagers wanting to fit in with a certain group. The same goes for inmates they want to fit in so other inmates will not pick on them. The inmates must be rehabilitated in order for them not to commit further criminal acts upon being released from jail or prison. The criminal justice system should not expect to place them in jail and release them thinking that the inmates have learned their lessons. Sure there are some that will learn the first time and never reoffend again. By providing programs for the inmates to participate in that are an educational experience or work related experience will show them that their previous actions are unacceptable to the society that we live in. When inmates are held accountable for their actions and required to work their sentences off such as what inmates have to do at Tent City Arizona, they will see that being in jail is no piece of cake. This lets them know that society will hold them accountable and not give them rewards for their criminal actions. Once you have been labeled as a criminal it will follow you around the rest of your life. Society does not like to forgive those who have been rehabilitated by the criminal justice system. Once a person has been released from jail or prison they have to work very hard to prove to society that they are a changed person. Some in society has the way of thinking once a criminal always a criminal. We as a whole society do not have the right to judge others by their past mistakes. We should look at the entire picture. Overall, I believe that it comes down to our moral values and our cultural beliefs on how we feel about certain issues. When a person shows the signs that they want to make a change for the better then we should afford them every opportunity to change their ways, where they will be able to become a productive member of society once released from serving out their sentences. Society should strive to give these individuals a second chance to prove that they have changed their ways.

References http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/08/03/20110803sheriff-arpaio-tent-city-turns-18.html Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminology today: An integrative introduction. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. http://www.mcso.org/JailInformation/TentCity.aspx

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Social Judgement Theory

...ocial judgment theory (SJT) is a persuasion theory proposed by Carolyn Sherif, Muzafer Sherif, and Carl Hovland,[1] defined by Sherif and Sherif as the perception and evaluation of an idea by comparing it with current attitudes. According to this theory, an individual weighs every new idea, comparing it with the individual's present point of view to determine where it should be placed on the attitude scale[2] in an individual's mind. SJT is the subconscious sorting out of ideas that occurs at the instant of perception. Social judgment theory arose from Egon Brunswik's probabilistic functionalist psychology and his lens model, which are socio-psychological theories.[3] It also comes from judgment theory. SJT is a theory that focuses on the internal processes of an individual's judgment with relation to a communicated message. The concept was intended to be an explanatory method designed to detail when persuasive messages are most likely to succeed. Attitude change is the fundamental objective of persuasive communication. SJT seeks to specify the conditions under which this change takes place and predict the direction and extent of the attitude change, while attempting to explain how likely a person might be to change his or her opinion, the probable direction of that change, their tolerance toward the opinion of others, and their level of commitment to their position.[4] The SJT researchers claimed expectations regarding attitude change could be based on the message receiver's...

Words: 920 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Social Exchange Theory

...Theories Of Relationship Theories Of Relationship [Document Title] [Document Title] Elizabeth Wiwoloku Elizabeth Wiwoloku Introduction There are two main theories applied to relationships, Social Exchange Theory and Equity Theory underpin commonly used behavioural therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Integrative Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. More recent studies in neuroscience and behavior and the importance of language have led to the development of Relational Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as an alternative approach. In this essay I will outline the relationship models comparing and contrasting them Social exchange theory Social exchange theory analyses interactions between two parties by examining the costs and benefits to each. The key point of the theory is that it assumes the two parties are both giving and receiving items of value from each other. Under this theory, interactions are only likely to continue if both parties feel they coming out of the exchange with more than they are giving up that is, if there is a positive amount of profit for both parties involved. The Social Exchange Theory by Thibaut and Kelly (1978) originates from economy sociology and psychology. It is also a well know theory in sociology that explains the variations and modifications of social relationships development between individuals. The social exchange theory assumes that all human relationships are a matter...

Words: 2516 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Social Cognitive Theory

...Social Cognitive Theory Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory is the framework for learning, based on the relationship between behavior, personal factors, and factors in the environment (Institute for Dynamic Educational Advance). Factors for social cognitive theory are based on a social or physical environment. Social environments encompass friends, colleagues, and family. Physical environments could run the gamut as vast as a particular food, securing a room size, room temperature, consideration of classroom setting, or an e-learning classroom online. The social cognitive theory explains the process functions of humans and aspects of emotional behaviors. In understanding these behaviors, the process of understanding behavioral change becomes clearer. According to Burney (2008), this cognitive process provides a backdrop for humans to observe their environment and others, using the information gathered to self-regulate their functions. Bandura introduced self-efficacy as the center of social cognitive theory. As one of the most studied topics in psychology, self-efficacy is one’s own belief in their outcome on succeeding in any given situation, based on a person’s belief system of thinking, feeling, and the person’s response or behavior (University of Twente, 2010). As populations have become more diverse, the global educational area has grown to encompass more students that are technology-rich (Gunter, 2007). As institutions of higher learning seek additional...

Words: 1255 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Social Learning Theory

...Framework Social Learning Theory Developed by Albert Bandura in 1965 and 1977, Social Learning Theory emphasized on the importance of rewards and punishments. This theory identified that children can learn new behaviours in one or two ways: by direct experience through trial and error or by observing and imitating others in their social environment. Bandura (1994) stated that observational learning eventually is more efficient than trying to discover everything on your own. Children can and do learn from other people in their environment, including parents, siblings, peers, and teachers. Children can also learn from characters and people that appeared in the mass media (Sparks, 2002) Bandura’s studies helped researchers to understand a number of things about television violence, animated programs and children. First, viewing television violence and animated programs could cause children to behave more aggressively, particularly if the violent characters were attractive and received rewards for their actions. Second, in many of these studies, the effects emerged most strongly for boys not girls. The researchers thought that perhaps this aggressive tendency resulted in boys being more sensitive to the impact of media violence. In the 1980s, Bandura (1986) reformulated his theory for the reason that it had been criticised as too behaviouristic, which was focusing mostly on the reinforcements and how people act. The newer perspective, which was called Social Cognitive Theory...

Words: 384 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Social Cognitive Theory

...Social Cognitive Theory The social cognitive theory was formed in in 1977 primarily from the work of Albert Bandura, initially developed with the purpose of explaining social behaviors. It emphasizes that “learning occurs in a social context, and that much of what is learned is gained through observation” (Anderman & Anderman, 2009, p. 834). This theory has been applied to a wide spectrum of areas of study such as human functioning as career choice, athletics, organizational behavior, and mental and physical health. It has also been used in the areas of behavior in the classroom including motivation, learning, and achievement. The social cognitive theory has five major concepts. The first concept is observational learning. This idea is also known as vicarious modeling because learning is a result of watching behaviors in the environment. According to this theory, observational learning is dependent on attention, retention, production, and motivation (Anderman & Anderman, 2009). Attention is needed because students must first be watching a behavior in order to learn it. Retention is needed in order to transform what is observed into something that can be used for later. Production is necessary in order for students to draw on stored conclusions and perform what they have learned, and motivation is needed in order for students to participate in any of these processes. The second major concept is outcome expectations. These “reflect individuals’ beliefs about what consequences...

Words: 618 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Social Penetration Theory Paper

...Social Penetration Theory (SPT) was developed by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor. This theory has a socio-psychological tradition with an objective approach. SPT explains how relationship development works. Social Penetration Theory has five concepts which are as listed: social penetration, law of reciprocity, self-disclosure, personality structures of SPT, and the social exchange theory. Social penetration is defined as “the process of developing deeper intimacy with another person through mutual self-disclosure and other forms of vulnerability” (Griffin, 2015, pg. 97). This theory “depends on a cost-benefit analysis that each person performs as he/she considers the possibility of a close personal relationship” (Hara and Yum, 2005, pg. 3). As social penetration increases between partners the relationship will begin to develop more successfully. The Law of...

Words: 595 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory

...Bandura & Social Cognitive Theory Randy Wayne Rising Liberty University Psychology of Personality 341-D06 Timothy Williams May 07, 2013 Abstract Years of research has been conducted by Albert Bandura on the Social Cognitive Theory. The practical use of Social Cognitive Theory has an interesting approach to changing or maintaining behaviors. Bandura has researched Social Cognitive Theory and the individual differences that show the flexibility that people have dealing with behavior. The Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication discusses the role that mass media plays in society in regard to influences on behavior within society. The Social Cognitive Theory of Human Agency, by Bandura, which describes the power that people posses to influence their own actions to get the deserved results the individual, desires. Social Cognitive Theory on Gender Development addresses the development of people’s lives according to the gender and the roles that are stereotypical by society in regards to personality and behavior. Health Promotion from the Perspective of Social Cognitive Theory deals with health promotion and disease prevention from social cognitive theory. The approach of changing health practices of social systems rather than the habits of individuals. Social Cognitive Theory in Cultural Context explains that people adapt to diverse conditions all over the world. Parents from impoverished environments through sacrifices want their children to have a better...

Words: 1953 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Drug Use and Social Learning Theory

...Theoretical and Conceptual This study is anchored on Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory. This theory states that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context and can occur purely through observation or direct instruction (Bandura, 1963). Social learning theory holds that behavior is molded by rewards and punishment, or reinforcement. Past and present rewards and punishments for certain actions determine the actions that individuals continue to pursue. Reward and punishment structures are built into specific groups (Akers, 1992). By interacting with members of certain groups or social circles, people learn definitions of behaviors as good or bad. It is in the group setting, differentially for different groups, where reward and punishment take place, and where individuals are exposed to behavioral models and normative definitions of certain behaviors as good or bad . Social learning theory proposes that the use and abuse of psychoactive substances is caused by the differential exposure to groups in which use is rewarded. “These groups provide the social environments in which exposure to definitions, imitations of models, and social reinforcements for use of or abstinence from any particular substance takes place. The definitions are learned through imitation and social reinforcement of them by members of the group with whom one is associated” (Akers et al, 1979). Drug use, including abuse, is determined “by the extent to which a given pattern of behavior...

Words: 486 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Social Theory

...Zain Muzaffar Social Theory Thomas Long 11/13/2013 Social Theory Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, is credited with establishing and developing the idea of a communist society in response to modern capitalism in the early 1800's. Communism is the theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all its members. Marx described human history as the attempt to control nature in order to improve the human condition. The party was formed to support and promote the common interests of the proletariat. The labor market is penetrated thorough the means of social capitalism that is endorsed from the buying and selling power of companies that promote the circular flow of products in the buying market of financial capital distributed and dispersed through financial capital gains of the economy buying and selling products that commodities of social Marxism. The Marx’s view of capitalism, and the idea of commodity fethisms is the ideal perception of social relationships involved in production, and not talking about the relationships among people but the economic concept of commodities exchanged in the marketplace. The economic value of products that are commodities in the social market are circulated as forms of capital merchants who are competing for financial capital gains, and mediated forms of monetary exchange that is contributed to the GDP, and the...

Words: 1914 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Social Learning Theory

...Use the Internet to research a social learning theory applicable to the workplace that is not addressed in Chapter 4. Then, determine whether the social learning theory that you researched can be applied your current or past work experience. Support your reasoning. A social learning theory that is related to the workplace is the Goal Setting Theory. The way in which an employee behaves is said to come from the employees conscious goals. There are two types of goal orientations: learning orientation and performance orientation. The learning orientation depicts a learner that is motivated by competency in a specific task. The performance orientation depicts a learner who focuses on how well their performance is compared to others (Nuriddin, 2010). The Goal Setting Theory is something that I use in my current position and have used in my past jobs. I believe it is very important to be a goal-minded person in the workplace. In my current position, I use the Goal Setting Theory to set daily goals of what I want to get completed. I also set weekly and monthly goals for my job at hand. This has always helped me with staying on track with tasks at work as well as feeling good once I have achieved my goals. I set personal goals on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. As far as the two goal orientations go, I see a little bit of each in myself. I like to know what I am doing and be a specialist in my position, but I am also very competitive. If there is a way to track...

Words: 384 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Rating a Group Based on Social Exchange Theory

...Group evaluation based on Social Exchange Theory Group evaluation based on Social Exchange Theory Social exchange theory suggests that each member of our group entered the group after first weighing the benefits verses the cost. In our situation as students in school, and assigned to a group in order to complete a graded project, what we must weigh is how social exchange theory would instead effect how much effort and dedication each person brought to the group. We must also consider that each person also had outside influences which added to their ability to contribute time on the project itself before giving a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a person’s contribution. For each of us, the benefits or reward are in most cases the same, we would like to get an A on our presentation. What will set us apart is how bad each of us as individuals really want that A. Since I have worked with each of the students in my group for over a year now it’s fairly easy to know and to set expectations as to who will do what within our group. Allan has cared about one thing since I met him a year ago, his GPA. He has not missed a day of school and like me is always the last to leave after class labs. Due to his dedication to maintaining a 4.0 GPA he had everything to gain by putting forth a great effort and contributing one hundred percent to his part of the project. Jolynn is also one who cares allot about her GPA and as with every other project I have been a part of, will give one...

Words: 874 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Social Learning Theory

...Social Learning Theory Bertha Zhagui BUS375: Employee Training Instructor:  Marissa Chavez July 8, 2013 The importance of training and cost of training are obvious. The question forcing the executives in organization is that how organization can make these training programs more effective. It means that individual makes the organizational performance better by utilizing their knowledge and skills consequently organization offers training for development of its employee performance to achieve required goals. This study highlights the importance and applications of learning theories and how these theories could prove to be of most effective in trainings. As training are only effective if it promote learning. Several theories relate to how people learn. Each theory relates to different aspects of the learning process. In my following paper I will discuss the Social Learning Theory, and will explain how this theory relates to my current workplace and how it would generate the same results in any other organizations. People are the critical component of the organizational system (Hayes, Wheelwright and Clark, 1998). Superior performance is ultimately based on the people in an organization, the right management principles, systems and procedures play an essential role. The capabilities that create a competitive advantage come from people, their skill, discipline, motivation, ability to solve problems and their capacity for learning (Tilley...

Words: 901 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Feminist Social Theory

...Name Course Tutor Date Feminist Social Theory. The feminist social theory calls for equality for both genders- men and women. It entails studying gender inequality, the roles of women in the society, their experiences, duties and their contribution in fields such as, among others, sociology, and literature. The theory has been studied examined and expanded by several analysts such as sociologist Dorothy Smith, Patricia Hill Collins and Judith Butler. They all have their distinct views regarding the topic. Their conclusions also contain differences as well as similarities. First, Dorothy Smith is a Canadian sociologist who involves neo-Marxist and phenomenological concepts and ideas in her work. She employs institutional ethnography approach that she sees as a way of acquiring knowledge of the way relations of ruling work from the perspective of the people upon which they work. Dorothy Smith is famous for coming up with the standpoint theory that states that the position held by an individual in the society affects what he or she knows. She argues that nobody is in a position to possess the complete knowledge and that two people cannot share a similar standpoint. She urges us to recognize our perspective and investigate it. Smith points out that the position of men is favored whereas that of women is ignored. She also claims that the post of the white male upper class is given more emphasis than that of the rest of the world. She employs the concept of bifurcated consciousness...

Words: 563 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Social Defense Theory

... G., & Shaver, P. R. (2010). The attachment paradox: How can so many of us (the insecure ones) have no adaptive advantages? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5, 123-141. Answer the following questions: 1. What is the paradox in attachment theory? The paradox in attachment theory is that insecure attachment styles such as avoidant and anxious could provide advantageous results in certain living conditions in the same way that a secure attachment style can. Although the original attachment theory according to Bowlby stated only the disadvantages of the then detrimental attachment styles (anxious and avoidant), researchers such as Belsky and Symons found there to be adaptive advantages to these styles with close regard to the fact that these styles have continued to evolve through time. In addition to this, the paradox also raises the matter that social groups containing members with different attachment patterns may be more fit for survival than those of a homogenous group of securely attached individuals. 2. To your opinion, why current theory and research in attachment fail to find adaptive advantages for insecure attachment orientations? It is clear that since the early formation of attachment theories, secure attachment has clearly proven to be the most efficient. If a child isn’t being responded to, attended, nurtured or is consistently cared for, he/she will become insecurely attached. These negative characteristics are bound to lead to problematic...

Words: 755 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Social Theories on Education

...Jurrell D. Harrison The Impact Of Sociological Theories In Education Introduction to Sociology Professor Whited Monday February 13th 2012 Education is often considered as the most important aspect of an individual’s life. Education essentially shapes a person’s future. Without an education, moreover a good education, in today’s economy people would struggle in everyday life just to make ends meet. In fact, according to statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, on a survey taken by 11,437 people in January 2011, is 16.5%. That is a staggering 1,892 people who are unemployed because they do not have adequate education. Thus it is therefore evident that an education, or some education is paramount to a person’s success or accomplishments in life. There are three theories that help understand education. Although most view these theories as opinions, these theories support the need for education by allowing society to better understand education and they demonstrate or help identify what education really is. The three theories that are important for purposes of this paper are: Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism. These three theories play a vital role in helping understand education and why it is so important. Contrary to most beliefs, the theories previously mention are not simply one man’s opinions, rather they give a prime meaning to the necessity of education. Traditionally...

Words: 2321 - Pages: 10