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...
[ View Full Essay]