Chapter 5: Social Learning Theory
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Social Process Theory
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all society influences what you learn and controls behavior. Micro theory.
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What does Social Process Theory do?
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it influences criminal behavior, and focuses on social interactions or processes experienced by the individual.
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What is crime? (Social Process)
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it is a function of socialization.
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Sources of Socialization.
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Community, peer groups, general culture, mass media, sports, correctional institutions.
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Social Learning Theories:
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Behavioral Theories, Differential Association theory, Differential Reinforcement theory, Social Learning theory, and social structure and social learning theory.
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Assumptions of Social Learning theory
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-people are basically good - human beings are social - people are rational - people try to impose stability order and meaning in their experiences.
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Differential Association Theory (Sutherland)
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a general sociological theory of crime (explains behavior in general).
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Assumptions of Differential Association Theory:
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-crime is politically defined (gov makes law) -definition of crime may be inconsistent and consequently regarded by some groups (vary culture by culture). -acquisition of behavior is a social learning process.
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9 aspects for Differential Association theory
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1) criminal behavior is learned 2) cb functions through interactions with other people in process of communication 3) cb occurs mainly with intimate person group 4) cb includes techniques of committing crime and specific direction of motivations, drive and rationalization. 5) direction of motives and drives leaned from legal codes as unfavorable or favorable. 6) person become delinquent because of excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definition unfavorable to violation to law. **** 7) differential association differ in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. 8) learning by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns invokes all mechanisms involved in any other learning. 9) cb is expression of general needs and values
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Differential Association theory formula
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Differential Association + excess criminal definitions= criminal behavior.
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Problems with Differential Association
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- fails to explain why expose to delinquent definition doesn't lead all youth to crime - some individuals commit crime alone or without influence of other (scope) -ignores irrational acts of violence - difficult to measure and test
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Social Learning Theory (Akers)
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reformation of Differential Association with psychological learning elements.
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Social Learning 4 elements
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1) Differential association 2) Definition 3) Differential reinforcement 4) Imitation
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1) Differential Association (Social Learning)
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persons interaction with others in primary and secondary groups which are conventional or criminal. Interactional dimension, Normative dimension
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Interactional dimension
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direct association with others (friend in class) indirect association with reference groups (Society)
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Normative dimension
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norms and values individuals is exposed to. Work through direct indirect association.
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2) Definitions
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ones attitudes or meanings attaches to a given behavior. 2 types: general and specific.
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General definitions
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religious moral and other conventional norms
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Specific definition
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particular or series of acts.
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Definitions of crime
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negative, positive, neutralizing
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Negative definition of crime
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leads to pro-social behavior. crime is evil therefore do not do it.
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Positive definition of crime
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leads to criminal behavior (anti social behavior). It won't hurt anybody so ill do it.
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Neutralizing definition of crime
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go either way. Rationalization. it leads to anti-social behavior; comes up with a justification for the crime. World would be better without this person.
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3) Differential Reinforcement
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balance of anticipated reward and punishment follow or are consequence of behavior.
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Positive reinforcement
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reward for behavior
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Negative reinforcement
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drawbacks for behavior
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Positive punishment
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(Corporal punishment) adding punishment
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Negative punishment
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(Losing liberty) taking away something good
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Modality of reinforcement
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amount, frequency, and probability
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Social reinforcement
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involves peers, moral, and other aspects of society
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Nonsocial reinforcement
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losing liberty (fines)
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Self-reinforcement
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one reinforces own behavior by taking roles of others.
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4) Imitation
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engagement in behavior after the observation of similar behavior in others. imp in initial acquisition of behavior. less imp for maintaing behavior.
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Social Learning theory: major premise
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CB begins with exposure to cb, followed by adapting definitions favorable to the behavior or imitation, and modified by reinforcement associated by that behavior.
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Pros of Social Learning
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- one of most supported theories - has been effective for exploring gang behavior or white collar crime - easily testable
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Cons of Social Learning
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-Less parsimonious - elements of tautology - scope (doesn't consider murder, serial killers, or rape) - causality (hang out bc criminal or bc already criminal)
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Social Structure and Social Learning Theory (Akers)
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1) Differential social organization 2) Differential location in social structure 3) theoretically defined structural variables 4) Differential social location in groups
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Differential Social Organization
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These factors lean societies to higher or lower crime rates: age, population, ethnicity.
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Differential location in social structure
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demographic characteristics of individual social groups defines the niche they fill in society.
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Theoretically defined structural variables
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bringing concepts from other macro theories of crime: anomie, class oppression, social disorganization.
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Differential social location in groups
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refers to individual membership in and relation to primary, secondary, and reference groups.
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Social Control ask what question
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Why don't we commit crimes?
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Social Control Theories include:
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-techniques of neutralization -Social bonding theory -General theory of crime
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Neutralization theory
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by Skyes and Matza. becoming a criminal is a leaning experience but criminals hold conventional values and attitudes.
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Neutralization key concept:
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distinct set of justification for their law violating behavior. Neutralizing their values and feelings of guilt and remorse.
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Techniques of neutralization:
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1) Denial of responsibility 2) Denial of victim 3) Denial of injury 4) Condemnation of Condemners 5) Appeal to higher loyalties 6)Defense necessity 7) Defense of ledger
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Denial of Responsibility
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blames others, transfers responsibility
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Denial of Victim
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unlawful act didn't hurt anyone or anyone important. Your denying the victim. ex: drug lord stealing others drugs.
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Denial of Injury
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unlawful act didn't hurt anyone. No one was hurt. ex: stealing, white collar crime
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Condemnation of Condemners
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person violating act blames person who came up with law. ex: murders tell gov they can kill, so can he.
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Appeal to higher loyalities
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did it for the greater good. ex: dad and kids bank rob because they need money to survive.
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Drift Theory major premise
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youths learn ways of neutralizing moral restraints and periodically
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Neutralization Theory evaluation
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if criminals hold values in opposition to accepted social norms, then there is really no need to neutralize.
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Social Bonding Theory (Hirschi)
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social bonds ties a person has to the institutions and processes of society that keep them connected and prevent them from committing crime. People are born bad, learn to be good.
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Social Bonding Theory
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a person's bond to society prevents him or her from violating the law. If the bond weakens, the person is free to commit crime.
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Assumptions of Modern Social Control Theories
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people are inherently bad. 1930-1950 started questioning how good research is the method. Started rethinking traditional family forms.
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Elements of the Bond
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1) Attachment 2) Commitment 3) Involvement 4) Belief
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Attachment
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person's sensitivity to and interest in others how you feel about the people.
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Commitment
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Degree to which a person's social rewards are tied to conventional actions.
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Involvment
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Amount of time devoted to conventional activites
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Belief
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Degree to which a person internalizes the conventional norms.
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Social Bonding: Empirical research
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- attachment, commitment, and belief are consistent and effects on delinquent behavior. -Involvement rarely shows significant effects - Delinquent peer associations
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Social Bonding Evaluation
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-neglects relative importance of bond elements -social attachments are detrimental -modes of criminality - effects of time not considered -temporal order problem
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General Theory of Crime
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Hirschi and Gottfredson. Focus- Low self-control, opportunity, and criminality.
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General Theory of Crime roots
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Focus on one type of control (self-control) as general mechanism. Four bonding elements are subsumed under self-control. Social bonds affect crime indirectly through effects on self-control.
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Self Control Theory
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low self-control=personal trait, individuals lack ability the control emotions desires or actions. Established in families marked by inadequate child-rearing practices. Remains stable.
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Self-Control Hypothesis
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Socialization-Low Self Control-crime analogous behavior
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Self Control Asses
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elements of low self-control low self control is single dimensional trait which consists of all the following elements: -impulsively -Preference of simple task -risk seeing -Preference physical task - self- centered - temper
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Self-Control Empirical Research
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-evidence has successfully demonstrated a modest association between self-control and different measure of criminal behavior. -self-control varies age to age
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Issues with Self-Control
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-Tautological- risk taking -Role of moral beliefs (you can be impulsive but not act on it) -self-control varies by age - global fallacy -fallacy of autonomy (what happens in the family occurs outside of other contacts.)
