Philosophical perspectives on subjective thought and opinion

Shoplifting & Social Process Theory

The Social Process Theory argues that people commit crime based on social influences (McQuade, 2009). Social influences can be strong where shoplifting is concerned with peer pressure in delinquency or with family influences when family members are corrupt. Although the theory does not fully explain all acts of shoplifting, it does explain acts of shoplifting where delinquency and corrupt family members are concerned.

Peer pressure causes stress where teens are striving to be accepted by their peers. If teens are associated with deviant peers, they will shoplift if the peers want them to in order to be accepted by the peers. This is the social influence of peer pressure. Regardless of how they were taught or how they feel, the idea is being accepted in their peer group. With deviant group affiliation, the justification is a sense of loyalty to the deviant group. There is also justification that it was not the offender's idea.

When family members are corrupt, other family members will shoplift at the influence of the corrupt family members. There is a sense of justification of it is ok because the corrupt family member wanted them to do or it was not the offender's idea to do it. If drugs or alcohol are involved with the family, the justification is the idea of supporting habits or being under the influence.

The Social Process Theory does not fully explain all acts of shoplifting. In poverty situations, the justification may be survival, not the idea of pleasing a societal member. It could be inequality in the community where some members do not have the same equal opportunities. In these situations, the rationalization may be survival or resentments from not being afforded the same opportunities at success. Offender's in these situations may justify that the victims are offenders also.

To test the theory, the first step would be to research previous studies concerning shoplifting, the hypothesis studied, how the studies were conducted, and the findings of the researchers. By comparing and contrasting the hypothesis, methods, and findings, conclusions can be drawn about what has been studied, the limitations in the studies, findings of the studies, and further research that was recommended. From this literature review, a hypothesis can be developed-based recommendations and findings of previous research and careful analysis of comparison of the previous studies that could possibly build on existing knowledge. The hypothesis would determine the appropriate design.