Walter and Janet have three children. Janet has been a stay-at-home mother raising the children. Walter has always worked full time and is always traveling for business. Their youngest child will start school soon. Now all three children will be in school all day. Walter and Janet are discussing whether Janet should take the full-time job she has been offered. Walter and Janet’s middle child Fred is having trouble in school. He has been placed in special classes for emotionally disturbed children because of a learning disability. Fred’s parents are concerned that others are calling their child "emotionally disturbed" and "delinquent." Fred begins to act up, when he hadn’t before. These behaviors validate which validate social process theory?

Based on this scenario, it seems that these behaviors validate the social process theory known as the culture conflict theory. This theory states that crime is caused due to the contradictory values that exist when different social groups have different ideas of what is considered "acceptable behavior". In this scenario, Fred's behaviors may seem acceptable to Walter and Janet but it is not to the school. The same goes for Walter and Janet's behavior, to them it may be normal but some psychiatrists or social workers may consider it being neglectful of the children's needs.