2.2 / 3.2 individual theories Flashcards
What is an Individualistic Theory
An individuals psychological makeup or developmental processes an individual experiences is the cause of crime.
What is a Learning Theory
Criminality is the result of learned behaviours, usually through family or peers.
Operant learning theory - (Skinner)
What is Behaviourism
All behaviour both good and bad is the result of reinforcements and punishments.
Operant learning theory - (Skinner)
What is Operant conditioning
Specific consequences associated with operant behaviour
- Rewards given to encourage behaviour
- Punishment given to decrease behaviour
Operant learning theory - (Skinner)
What were Skinner’s Key Ideas
All behaviour good and bad is the result of reinforcements and punishments, therefore, conditioning may explain criminal behaviours.
An example that used this approach is Jeffreys differential reinforcement theory.
Operant learning theory - (Skinner)
What is Jeffery’s Differential Reinforcement Theory
Criminal behaviour is learnt through reinforcement of particular behaviours.
If crime has rewarding consequences, instead of punishments the person is more likely to engage in criminal behaviour.
The rewards can be both financial and emotional.
Weaknesses - (3.2)
Operant Learning
- Based on learning in animals. Not an accurate model on how humans learn criminal behaviour.
- Theory ignores the internal mental processes like thinking , personal values, and attitudes, explaining criminal behaviour solely in the forms if reward and punishments.
- Humans have free will and are able to choose their course of action.
Strengths - (3.2)
Operant Learning
- Shows that animals learn via experience and reinforcement. This also applies to people.
- Can be applied to offending. If crimes lead to a more favourable outcome, the person is more likely to commit them.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
What is Social Learning Theory
Bandura believed that learnining occurs from observing and imitating others, and that as humans we learn through modelling - learning through observation, leading to the repitition of the behaviour.
He used the Bobo Doll experiment to prove his beliefs, observing groups of children through their interactions with a bobo doll after being modelled various behaviours. He then reinforced his theory by then following up and repeating the experiment using the same variables providing a concordant result - that vicarious reinforcement of a behaviour is beneficial during the developmental stages of childhood, and incorrect socialisation leads to antisocial and criminal behaviour.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
Why are Role Models important, and how can they Identify with an individual.
Role Models are important as learning occurs from observing and intimidating others, leading to repitition of the behaviours.
Identification - the extent of which an individual relates to a role model.
A person will be more likely to have role models with similar or desireable charicteristics - usually the same sex or attractive and wealthy. Identification with a model means that an individual is more likely to imitate the role models behaviours.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
What is a Live Model
(Role models)
People physically present in our environment
Social Learning - (Bandura)
What is a Symbolic Model
People in films and books
Symbolic modellin g is more likely to have greater affect in cultures wherein media is widely available.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
What is Vicarious Reinforcement
Learning through observation of the consequences of actions in othyers.
When a learner obseves someone they identify with as a role model recieve reward or parise for behaviour, they are more likely to imitate the behaviour for themselves.
This works in the case of both positive and negative behaviour.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment
A sample of 36 boys and 36 girls between the ages of 3 - 6 watched a model playing with a Bobo doll.
* 24 children watched the model play with the doll agressively
* 24 children watched the model play with the doll nicely
* 24 children did not have a model
The children were then subject to ‘mild aggression arousal’, being taken into a room with nice toys, and as soon as they began to play the toys were taken away.
The children were then taken into a third room containing both agressive toys (hammer / dart guns) and non-aggressive toys (tea set / teddys) and a 3ft bobo doll.
Results
* The children that itnessed agressiv e modelling behaved mich mlore violentgly towards the doll than the non-agressive modelled group
* Boys were more physically aggressive than girls
* Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex role models than the girls.
Social Learning - (Bandura)
Bandura’s follow up experiment (1963)
Bandura and Walters showed videos of a model behaving violently towards a Bobo doll to children.
* one group were shown praise for the agressive behaviour
* one group were shown no consequence for the agressive behaviour
* one group was shown punishment for the agressive behaviour
Results
The children shown praise for agressive behaviour behaved much more agressively towards the Bobo doll, followed the group given no consequence for the agressive behaviour, Whereas the goup showed punisment for the agressive behaviour were the least aggressive.
Strengths (3.2)
Social Learning
- The Bobo Doll experiment had an easily controlled variable, and the results show that the model did have an effect on the child’s behaviour, showing both cause and effect.
- Real life application - results of the research suggests the need to protect children from wittnessing aggressive actions, supporting the need for age ratings on film and video.
Weaknesses (3.2)
Social Learning
- It does not take into accountv biological processes, criminal behaviour that runs in families is not taken into account, and neither is the hormonal factor - possiby explaining why boys are more aggressive than girls.
- The study took place in a lab, and some children may have been aware of what was expected of them, limiting the usefullness of the research.
- Oppertunistic crime cannot be explained, as it does not involve seeing the behaviour produced first.
- Just because someone, witnesses a crime does not mean that they will copy it, as other factors are involved.
Psychodynamic Theory - (Freud)
What is Psychodynamic Theory
Psychdynamic theory believes that;
* All humans havde criminal tendencies
* Most people develop inner controls to help deal with urges
* An individuals early childhood experience influences their likelyhood of committing future crime
* Criminal behaviour is due to abnormal development of the psyche
* The structure of the psyche is developed within the first 6 years of life, and the roots of criminality are often found within this time period, especilaly within parent child relationships.
freud believed there are three parts to a persons personality -
1. id
2. ego
3. superego
criminal behaviour is a result of an individuals failure to resolve internal conflicts in a socially acceptable way.
