The topic I choose to write about for this article is social process theory and social development theory and the importance of criminology. I will give positive and negative examples that are associated with this theory. “According to Frank Schmalleger (2012) page 177 there are numerous theories that can be classified under the umbrella of social process: social learning theory, social control theory, labeling theory, reintegrative shame and dramaturgical perspective.” I hope that after reading this article you have a better understanding of the different theories in social process and social development theory. Theory and history of its development Social learning theory is known as learning theory, put forward by Edwin Sutherland in 1939 it was he who discovered that criminality is learned through a process of differential association. Social learning theory is behavior that is learned in much the same way and such learning ensures that people are not born criminals. Crime patterns and behavior are learned from others who commit crimes or from the individual's environment. Interactionist theory states that every person has the power to break the law. No person is born with criminal intent, criminal behavior occurs through interactions of thought and socialization especially within a group. Another theory is that of social control according to which it focuses directly on the bonding of people and individuals around them. This helps shape their relationship and their behavior helps with environments and personality that help people and prevent them from committing crimes. With this theory there have been many theorists who have been involved from 1950 to today. Walter C. Reckless, Howard B. Kaplan, Tr...... half of article ......od occurs as a person transitions from childhood to adulthood, and life course theorists have identified at least seven developmental tasks that American adolescents grapple with: (1) establishing an identity, (2) cultivating symbiotic relationships, (3) defining physical attractiveness, (4) investing in a value system, (5 ) obtain an education, (6) separate from family and achieve independence, and (7) obtain and maintain paid employment.86 Young people face many obstacles or risks in their attempts to resolve these problems as they work to perform a successful transition to adulthood.” Schmalleger (2012) I hope that after reading this article you have a better understanding of how different theories work in social process theory and social development. There have been theories which I classify under social process theory. I hope you like it.