Social Learning Theory

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Social Learning Theory, focusing on mechanisms of learning crime, reinforcement, punishment, and influential beliefs.

Social Learning Theory

A theory that explains how individuals learn behaviors, including criminal behavior, primarily through observing and interacting with others.

Differential Reinforcement

The process by which different behaviors are reinforced at different rates, affecting the likelihood of those behaviors occurring.

Positive Reinforcement

A process where a behavior results in the presentation of something desirable, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Reinforcement

A process where a behavior results in the removal of something undesirable, thus increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

Positive Punishment

The presentation of an aversive stimulus following a behavior, decreasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a positive stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Reinforcements and Punishments

Factors that encourage or discourage behaviors; reinforcements increase behavior while punishments decrease it.

Beliefs Favorable to Youth Crime

Categories of beliefs that support or condone criminal behavior among youth, including approval of crime and values that make crime appealing.

Imitation of Criminal Models

The tendency for individuals to engage in criminal behavior after observing others, particularly models who are liked, respected, or rewarded.

Discriminative Stimuli

Situations or cues that indicate when a behavior is likely to be reinforced, influencing individual actions in specific contexts.

Intermittent Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule where behaviors are rewarded inconsistently, which can be effective in maintaining behavioral patterns.

Conditioning Variables

Factors that influence the likelihood of an individual to imitate a model, such as liking the model or perceiving reinforcement.