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American History X: Social Learning Theory

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American History X

Social learning theory is defined as a theory of learning and social behavior which proposes that new behaviors can be acquired by observing and imitating others. The observation of learning behavior occurs through the observation of rewards and punishments, a process known as vicarious reinforcement. Crime is learned through associations with criminal definitions. Interacting with antisocial peers is a major cause of crime. Criminal behavior will be repeated and become chronic if reinforced. When criminal subcultures exist, many individuals can learn to commit crime in one location, and crime rates including violence may become very high. Social leaning theory In the movie American History X is a film that reflects upon the lives of the two Vineyard …show more content…

In additional this film teaches us how social learning theory occurs through observation, modeling, and imitation. According to social learning theory, people engage in crime because of their association with others who engage in crime. Their criminal behavior is reinforced, and they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime. The Vineyard brothers were coerced by their father at a very young age that minorities were lazy and unworthy. In the film, racism and discrimination is shown when Derrick leads his neo-Nazi brother and sisters to vandalize a Koran grocery store. While in the store, the skinhead members degraded a female Hispanic worker and killing another. Days later, Derrick goes on another rampage as he relentlessly murders two black guys who were trying to steal his truck in the middle of the night. Due to his strong, rampant white supremacy beliefs, while in prison Derrick disassociated himself with his fellow neo-Nazi brothers because of their business transactions with the Mexicans. Derrick was viciously raped by his Nazi prison family for openly befriending

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