Now I will discuss many social process theories that can be applied to the characters in the film. Social process theory explains crime and the interactions between individuals and their environments, focusing on how behaviors, values, and motivations are learned. Each of the female characters can be analyzed through the lenses of differential association theory, social learning theory, or labeling theory, which will help us understand their motivations for committing bank robberies.
Frankie, a bank teller, at first being a bank teller, but when a robbery occurs during her shift, she is wrongfully fired and accused of aiding the robbers due to her failure to follow protocol while in a state of shock. Feeling betrayed by the banking and justice systems, Frankie becomes financially unstable and resorts to criminal behavior. Differential association theory, which suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others, applies to Frankie’s situation. She adopts the belief that robbing banks is the only way to achieve financial stability after spending time with the other women, who share similar struggles with the justice system. With no job and no alternatives, Frankie turns to crime, feeling there is no other option.
Stony, a hardworking woman, is traumatized when her brother is wrongfully killed by the police. This event shatters her faith in the justice system and leads her down a path of crime. The labeling theory is most relevant to Stony, as it suggests that being labeled as a criminal or delinquent can influence a person’s self-identity and drive further deviant behavior. Throughout her life, Stony tries to follow the law and escape her neighborhood through legitimate means. However, the wrongful death of her brother reinforces the belief that society views her as a product of her environment, pushing her to accept the criminal label society has placed on her. In her desperation to escape, she turns to bank robbery as her last resort.
T.T., a single mother struggling, faces a tragic incident when her son drinks cleaning chemicals because she cannot afford a babysitter. As a result, CPS takes her son away, and T.T. becomes desperate to regain custody. Social learning theory, which posits that criminal behavior is learned through observing and imitating others, applies to T.T.’s situation. She observes her friends’ involvement in bank robberies and, motivated by the need to prove she can financially support her son and provide a stable home, decides to participate in the robberies herself.
Finally, Cleo, the most streetwise character, has a history of minor criminal offenses, making her more familiar with criminal behavior. Differential association theory is most relevant to Cleo, as her criminal actions are influenced by the social relationships and peer influences around her. Cleo is deeply loyal to her friends, and when she witnesses Frankie’s wrongful firing, Stony’s grief over her brother’s death, and T.T.’s loss of her son, she feels compelled to help them. Motivated by her desire to support her friends and achieve financial stability, Cleo joins the others in committing bank robberies.