I will introduce the two theories that I have chosen to write about in this essay.
The First Theory that I chose to write about is called: The Social Learning Theory, which is the theory that explains how individuals learn criminal behavior with the use of psychological principles of operant conditioning. The theorists Ronald Akers and Robert Burgess worked together to prove that differential reinforcement of behavior intensified or lessened criminal behavior. This theory will be discussed later in the paper. The Second Theory that I chose is called: The Rational Choice Theory, which is a theory that states that criminals are no different than non-criminals. They select their own behavior rationally and willingly knowing the
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Based on Akers’ theory of Social Learning, he felt that Social structure, which pertains to poverty, no education, no marketable skills, low cultural values; causes crime to occur and could affect a person’s Social learning. Akers’ felt that if one could gain insight into a person’s Social Structure or environment, it would help to better understand what affects the process of a person’s criminal behavior. There are four dimensions according to Akers of Social structure: Differential social organization- it encompasses the big communities. Differential location in the social structure- It state that sociodemographic places people in certain categories. Theoretically defined structural variables- it maintains the development of future progress of the social learning theory. Differential social location- This refers to the membership of other groups; such as gangs and peer …show more content…
Bentham based his principle of crime on the action of maximizing pleasure and minimizing the pain. In other words, if the criminal feels that the pleasure of doing the crime is greater than the pain, then they will choose to do the crime. The Rational choice Theory is best described as a method that theorist uses to help them to understand how humans behave. This theory have different assumptions such as: individualism- which is about individual behavior, the next assumption is that a person has to increase their goals, and the last assumption is that the people are interested in themselves. This goes in line with the two approaches that as described in the Rational Choice theory which are: Self-interest standard of rationality that states that sane or rational individuals only think about the cost and benefits that they receive for themselves. Lastly, the present aim standard of rationality that states that reasonable individuals act well in going after whatever choose to do so at the
The way individuals learn to interact with society as children tends to predict how they will interact with society and respond to its environments as adults. There are social theories that help the understanding of why individuals choose deviant behaviors and how they progress through life. Social process theories view criminal and deviant criminal behaviors as evolving mechanisms learned through societal interaction. Social development theories view deviant and criminal behaviors as part of a maturation process. Social theories are conclusions that have come about based on the response of individuals to
While watching Taken, a criminal justice major can pick out several different examples of criminological theories. However, the theory I found to be the most relevant was the rational choice theory. Several sociologists and criminologists believe that an individual’s decision to commit a crime is determined by several personal reasons. Those who strongly enforce the rational choice theory believe that an individual who is considering criminal behavior first decides whether or not he/she is willing to become
High crime rates are an ongoing issue through the United States, however the motivation and the cause of crime has yet to be entirely identified. Ronald Akers would say that criminality is a behavior that is learned based on what an individual sees and observes others doing. When an individual commits a crime, he or she is acting on impulse based on actions that they have seen others engage in. Initially during childhood, individuals learn actions and behavior by watching and listening to others, and out of impulse they mimic the behavior that is observed. Theorist Ronald Akers extended Sutherland’s differential association theory with a modern viewpoint known as the social learning theory. The social learning theory states that
Each of these theories had led to many new theories used today, such as the Rational Choice theory, Biosocial and Psychological Theory, Critical Theory, Cultural Deviance Theory, Life Course Theory, and many more. The one thing in common with every theory is that they all explain at least one behavioral factor that leads to crime. Today, all these theories, and more, are researched and taken into account when trying to understand why a criminal does what they do.
as a general concept, social learning theory has been applied to the many different fields of social science to explain why certain individuals develop motivation to commit (or abstain from) crime and develop the skills to commit crime through the people they associate with. Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most frequently looked at theories in the criminology field. This theory was introduced by Ronald L. Akers as a reformulation of Edwin H. Sutherland 's (1947) differential association theory of crime meld with principles of behavior psychology (Bradshaw, 2011). Akers retained the concepts of differential association and definitions from Sutherland 's theory, but conceptualized them in more behavioral terms and
How can theories help us to understand criminal behavior and to design strategies intended to control such behavior?
1. Which theory discussed in the lesson do you think best explains why crime happens? Why do you think that this theory is best?
Sociological theories of crime contain a great deal of useful information in the understanding of criminal behavior. Sociological theories are very useful in the study of criminal behavior because unlike psychological and biological theories they are mostly macro level theories which attempt to explain rates of crime for a group or an area rather than explaining why an individual committed a crime. (Kubrin, 2012). There is however some micro level sociological theories of crime that attempts to explain the individual’s motivation for criminal behavior (Kubrin, 2012). Of the contemporary
Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association
Theories of crime causation get to the fundamental characteristics of human nature. Theories of crime causation can be separated into trait theories and choice theories. Both types of theories make valid points about the causes of crime, yet they are have different implications for preventing the causes of crime. Thesis: Trait theories and choice theories both assume that humans are self-interested, but their conceptions of self-interest limit the applicability of each to certain types of crime. Trait theories appear more suited for explaining the causes of violent crime, whereas choice theories are more appropriate to property crimes or economic crimes.
There are various theories within the biological explanation as to why individuals commit criminal behaviour, these include:
The first theory refers to the Psychological Theory There are several fundamental assumptions, that are common for all the psychological approaches to criminal behavior. These are the following: The individual is the primary unit of analysis. (Individual human being is considered to be responsible for acts he/she conducted), Personality drives behavior within individuals, because it is the major motivational element.Crimes can result
The Classical and Neo-Classical theories are based upon the ideation of free will and rational choice. This theory occurs when the benefits outweigh the costs—when people pursue self-interest in the absence of effective punishments. They are simplex modules to follow when applying them to the role of individual responsibility. This theory further states that crime is a free-willed choice, that a person is aware of their actions, they are aware of their choice to commit crime. This is the theory of free will and rational thought. For instance, if a man robs a bank with complete mental awareness, he is aware of his actions.
Akers’ social learning theory’s basic premise is that deviant behavior is learned. The theory has four components. First is definitions, where a person considers his behavior is normal. Definitions can be general or specific.
The social learning theory states that criminal behavior is learned. Criminals learn their bad behaviors from close relationships they may have with criminal peers (Siegel & Worrall, 2016). Children look up to their parents; they want to be just like them. So, if children grow up surround by crime, they think that it is both normal and acceptable, and it is likely that they will participate in criminal behavior when they are older. As a result of learning this behavior, it is passed down through generations and is never broken. This can also be learned from friendships people may have with negative influences. Young adults and children want to fit in with their peers, so if they are surrounded with those who commit crimes, they are probably going to do the same because “everyone is doing it”.