In an effort to understand the root causes of this social problem, this study will apply social learning theory to create a learning model for domestic abuse. Social learning theory suggests that the “principle part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups” (Akers & Sellers, 2009, p. 86). The home is the initial training ground and gives signals of what is considered ‘normal and acceptable’ behavior. This study will evaluate predictors of aggression in the home to determine whether this is a learned behavior and if this lesson will be passed on to children within the home. Literature Review In the article, “Social Learning Theory and Partner Violence: A Research Note”, the authors demonstrate how current explanations for partner violence can be incorporated with Aker’s social learning theory to generate viable indicators of partner violence within relationships.
Edwin H. Sutherland, a criminologist, theorized that criminal behavior is a learning mechanism; he first publicizes his theory called Differential Association, also known as Social Learning theory in 1939. Sutherland believes that criminal behavior is learned by the interaction with other individuals, such as the crowd with which they may associate in, who believes criminal behavior to be acceptable. He also says that whether or not a person will imitate the behavior of another is based on the amount of respect they have for them. He also says that this learning of criminal behavior includes learning how to commit crimes. For example, if that individual whom a person holds high regard for deems criminal behavior as favorable, than that person will imitate the same behavior.
The social learning theory states that people learn from one another through observation, imitation and modelling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviourist and cognitive learning theories because it takes into mediating cognitive factors such as attention, memory, and motivation. In crime, the social learning theory plays an important role in explaining offending behaviour. It is explained through the differential association theory developed by Surtherland (1939). The theory claims that learning crime takes place through observing people (like peers, parents and so on), from there if the person if exposed to more pro-criminal attitudes than anti-criminal attitudes then they are more likely to offend.
Advantages and Disadvantages of using Quantitative and Qualitative methods to study Class and Crime Sociological research is incredibly useful in identifying patterns and relationships between social institutions and forces that exist around us today. Class and Crime are at the forefront of these social institutions. Therefore, questions such as ‘Why are their inequalities in class?’ or ‘Are some people predisposed to commit crime?’ arise and it lays upon sociological research to answer these questions. However the type of research we conduct can be compromised and split into two categories; Quantitative (based on positivist data) and Qualitative (Interpreitivst). There are chosen according to the type of research and data the social researcher hopes to find.
As OCS is social construct, different actors involved in constructing the figures to distort the reality of crime. Although OCS is not reliable, we can still learn something from it. In the following, we will discuss the reliability of OCS and explain what problems are involved during the procedure of OCS and discover the merits of OCS. Definition of social construct Social construct refers to “persons and groups interacting together in a social system form, over time, concepts or mental representations of each other's actions, and that these concepts eventually become habituated into reciprocal roles played by the actors in relation to each other” (Berger, P. L. and Luckmann, T. 1966). Since OCS relies largely on criminal law while criminal law is socially constructed by social norms from different actors, OCS is regarded as social construct.
• Social Control theories attribute crime and delinquency to family structures, education, peer groups etc. • Theorists share a conviction that deviant behavior is expected. • “Why people obey rules” main thing trying to be proven • Critical component of all social control theories is their attempt to explain factors keeping people from committing crimes. Social Heritage • Cynicism of the United States because of Watergate • Conservatism enhanced popularity of control theories, theories themselves not inheritantly conservative. Intellectual Heritage • Connection with strain theories.
These concept explain crime at levels of the society, the individual, and the group. An individual’s potential for criminality depends on the competition between associations that treat criminal behavior positively and those who treat it negatively (Vandelay, 2010, p.1) The main points of Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory are the nine propositions which are one that criminal behavior is learned second which is similar to the first proposition is that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other people in an attempt to communicate. The third main point or proposition is that the principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups. The fourth main point is that when criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes; the techniques of committing the crime which are sometimes complicated or very simple and the specific motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes. The fifth main point is the specific direction of motives and drive is learned from the definition of the legal codes whether it is favorable or unfavorable.
The criminal profiler creates a psychological profile or picture of a suspect based on what he/she knows about motivation, mental illness, and also human behavior. The best place to begin getting an idea of a criminal's mind is often at the scene of a crime. Investigators pay particular attention to the things done at the scene or to the victim and also to the things not done. These observations can lead to a behavioral profile of the yet unknown suspect. Once the behavioral profile is done, the profiler can then compare this to other criminals or mental patients with the same basic characteristics.
Learning Theory 3 The social learning theory is the behavior theory most significant to criminology. Albert Bandura alleged aggression is erudite through a curse of action called behavior modeling. He believed that individuals do not actually inherit violent tendencies, but they modeled them (Bandura & Ribes, 1976). Albert Bandura and other theorist argued that individuals, especially children, learn aggressive responses from observing others, either personally or through the media and environments (Bandura, 1976). He stated that many individuals believed that aggression will fabricate reinforcements.
Social Learning Theory compared to Social Control Theory Thomas Zane Cordell Professor Thomas Lawrence Social Learning Theory vs. Social Control Theory “The Social learning Theory says that all behavior is learned in much the same way and that such learning includes the acquisition of norms, values, and patterns of behaviors conductive to crime, meaning that crime is also learned and that people learn to commit crime from others “ (Schmalleger, 2011). Criminal behavior is a product of the social environment, not an innate characteristic of particular people (Schmalleger, 2011). A type of Social learning theory is the Differential Association. Edwin Sutherland in 1939 stated that criminality is learned through a process known as Differential Association with others who communicate criminal values and who advocate the commission of crimes. In his famous book, Principles of criminology Sutherland came up with nine principles of criminology on Differential Association (Schmalleger, 2011).