Theories
Learning Theories
general assumption of social learning theory
we are born tabula rasa
value conflict
emphasizes
immediate social setting of the individual
nature of socialization process
roles of “intimate interaction” & peers
highly critical of biological/psychological “abnormalities”
Differential Association Theory
Key concepts
Conformist
Criminal
“Diagram”
criminals cultures/norms (only learned how to do crime), Conformist culture/norms (only learn to conform) →
process of differential association (intimate contact only) →
Learn attitudes, beliefs, rationalization, and techniques [the “how and why”] →
Develop “excess” of definitions favorable to the violation of the law
One becomes Delinquent when you have excess definitions favorable to violating the law
issues with DAT learning theory
main problems
measurement problems
Not testable
excess varies between people
findings regarding priority
early associations do not
finding regarding problematic role of peers
Doesn’t explain how you learn it
Differential Reinforcement Theory
develops upon DAT
Uses operant conditioning theory
Punishments
applied to get people to stop behavior
Positive punishment
Applying
Ex. spanking, more chores
Negative Punishment
Removing
Ex. Phone, freedom
Reinforcements
applied to get people to continue behavior
Uses Cognitive learning Theory
Learn expectations through observing behavioral norms
Ex. Bobo Doll experiment
Differential reinforcement: Different behaviors have different probabilities of being reinforced/punished
people are motivated/discouraged to behave in certain ways if they have been reinforced/discouraged from doing it
reinforcement and punishment can be “nonsocial”
When smoking weed
Reinforcement: like the way it makes you feel
Punishment: greening out
loosened assumption of “intimate learning” only (w/cognitive learning)
Opposite starting points
Social Control Theory
Born evil
Why conform?
Value consensus
Key socialization Process?
Social Learning Theory
Born tabul
Drift/T.O.N. (Techniques of neutralization) Theory; Sykes and Matza
people justify to their deviant behavior BEFORE engaging in crime
allows you to engage in crime without feeling guilty
Concept of Drift
one “drifts” between criminal behavior and conformity
5 T.O.N.
Denial of responsibility
ex. “I was drunk”, “I have bad parents”, etc.
denial of injury
ex. “the store won’t miss this product”, “they won’t get hurt if i steal this”, etc.
denial of the victim
ex. “they had it coming”
condemnation of the condemners
ex. “My parents drink, so why can’t I?”
appeal to higher loyalties
ex. “my loyalty to my gang is my priority, not the law”
Social Bond Theory [Travi Hirschi (1969) ]
Usually what people mean when saying “social control theory”
Assumptions
Born evil (innately criminal/antisocial)
value consensus (at least on predatory acts)
An individuals “Bonding” to conventional society prevents crime and delinquency by “controlling” people
“Diagram”
Human nature → socialization process → variation in the strength of social bond → Variation in Crime & Delinquency
4 Elements of social bond
1. Attachment
(emotional element): degree to which a person has ties of affection and respect for others, esp. parents and teachers
2. Commitment
(rational element)": investment of energy and emotion in conventional pursuits (education, occupations)
3. Involvement
(time element): time spent in conventional activities
weakest element
4. Belief
(moral element): belief in the moral validity of social norms and laws
Self-Control Theory
Diagram
Human Nature →
socialization process →
effective parenting:
Set up rules; what you can and cant do
Monitor behavior
Consistently and fairly sanction
variation in self-control →
impulsive, short sighted, insensitive to others, risk-takers
Variation in delinquency & Crime
Social causes of crime
Social bond, gender differences, Delinquent peers, education levels, marital status, occupational outcomes
Main Issues
Both:
Significant associations but effects “small to moderate”
Not the only factors that matter
Hirschi (1990)
Attachment casual ordering problem
Attachment → Crime
In reality it has a reciprocal effect
G&H (1990)
Tautological: true by definition
Not all crimes are spontaneous/unskilled
Highly questionable claims
SC is time-stable trait (by age 8)
No social causation
Developmental theories
Moffits Dual Taxonomy
Moffit’s theory proposes two distinct, unique groups of offenders in the population:
life-course-persistent (LCP)
chronic offenders
adolescence limited
follow distinct trajectories
LCP Group
4-10% of the population
begin offending early on in life
key features: Stability and persistence
serious offenses and bulk of birth cohort’s offenses
no desistence
dont stop criminal behavior
static variable (present early)
biological harms
During the early years, faced w/ neuropsychological deficits (ND) (Cognitive functioning, emotional reactivity, verbal and social skills)
ND then reciprocally interact with home environment () variables
socialization process fails