2.2 induvidualistic theories of criminality

Unit 2

What 2 main ways do we learn?

* operant conditioning
* social learning

what is operant conditioning

Where behaviours are reinforced either postive, negative, or punishment

what is social learning

learning by watching other induviduals

Who did a study on operant conditioning?

Bf Skinner

who did a study on social learning theory?

Bandura

What did Bf Skinner do in his study?

He but rats and pigeons into his skinner box and would starve them and use food as a reward. First he would reward them for doing something close to what he wanted. Ie stepping near the red marker then when they pecked it then when they stood on it. Its called successive aproximations

what is successive aproximations?

a method of shaping operant behavior by reinforcing responses similar to the desired behaviour.

what is positive reinforcement?

desired behaviour is rewarded

what is negative reinforcement?

Something unpleasant is  taken away due to the desired behaviour being produced.

WHat is punishment?

when something pleasant is taken away

how does operant conditioning link to criminality?

* A person may engage in crime if the rewards outweigh the punishments.
* If a person is gaining more from the reward than the punishment, they are more likely to repeat the action.

What did Bandura do in his study?

Doll Study