Social Process Theories

The social structural theories discussed in the previous section only explain part of the possible reason that Kody Scott chose the path in life he did. Not all who experience the same conditions turn out the same way; indeed, only one of Kody’s brothers ran afoul of the law. The social process theories discussed in this section take us a step further in understanding Kody’s choices. Two of the theories in this section tell us that criminal behavior is learned in association with peers and that we choose to repeat behaviors that are rewarding to us.After he shot and killed the Blood gang members in his initiation, Kody tells us that he lay in bed that night feeling guilty and ashamed of his actions and that he knew they were wrong. Nevertheless, when the time came to do the same thing again, he chose to do what his peers told him to do because he valued their praise and approval more than anything else in life.His fellow Crips also provided him with rationales and justifications for his actions that neutralized his guilt. Another theory in this section tells us that labels have the power to make us live up to them; we have seen how Kody proudly accepted the label of “Monster” and how he did his best to live up to it. Other theories stress the importance of attachment to social institutions, but he tells us that his “homeboys”were his only family and that his only commitment and involvement were to and with them and their activities. On a personal level, he plainly lacked self-control; he was impulsive, hedonistic, and angry. Theorists in this chapter tell us that self-control is developed by consistent parental monitoring, supervision, and discipline, but his weary single mother lacked the time, resources, or incentive to provide Kody with proper parenting. From the youngest age, he came and went as he pleased. His autobiography makes it plain that he was something of a “feral child,” big enough, mean enough, and guiltless enough to be free to satisfy any and all urges as they arose. This section details many of the social processes by which Kody came to be the monster he claims to be. S E C T I O N