Chapter 7 - Learning Theories

Question 1

What is the key assumption of learning theories?

Answer 1

Our attitudes and behavioral decisions are acquired via communication and socialization after we’re born

Question 2

What is the principle of association?

Answer 2

Human behavior isn’t a result of inborn characteristics, but the way that we relate our experiences to stimuli in our environment

Question 3

What are Tarde’s (1890) Law of Imitation

Answer 3

-People imitate one another in proportion to the degree of close contact they have with one another
-Inferior usually imitates the superior
-Newer imitations displace older ones

Question 4

What was Edwin Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory?

Answer 4

1. Criminal behavior is learned
2. Criminal behavior is learned in interactions with others in a process of communication
3. Principle part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal
4. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes techniques of committing the crime; and the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes
5. Specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal code as favorable and unfavorable
6. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law over definitions to the violation of law (Principle of Differential Association Theory)
7. Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity
8. The process of learning criminal behavior involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning
9. While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it’s not explained by those general needs and values

Question 5

What are the strengths of Differential Association Theory?

Answer 5

Useful for explaining how people can be influenced by their social groups and those they interact with
Research has found that young offenders do tend to be mentored or tutored by older offenders
Research has found some support for differential association variables

Question 6

Weaknesses of Differential Association Theory?

Answer 6

Vague and difficult to test
Possible that crime leads to association with people who commit crime
Doesn’t account for influence of impersonal interactions (ex: video games)

Question 7

What were the responses to Differential Association Theory?

Answer 7

Glaser’s Differential Theory and Burgess and Akers Theory

Question 8

Glaser’s Differential Theory (1956)

Answer 8

-Allows for learning to take place through other reference groups who we may not have met
-Individuals must identify with personal character and behave accordingly
-Learning from movies, books

Question 9

How did Burgess and Akers respond to Differential Association Theory?

Answer 9

-Restated Sutherland’s principles into 7 principles
-Criticized differential association theory for not specifying the means of learning
-Brings concepts such as operant conditioning

Question 10

What is Bandura’s Social Learning Experiment (1961)

Answer 10

-Imitation and modeling as a means of learning
-We repeat behavior we see
-We are especially likely to repeat a behavior that we see if we see that it’s either rewarded or not punished

Question 11

What is Akers Social Learning Theory (1973, 1994)?

Answer 11

1. Imitation
2. Definitions
3. Differential Association
4. Differential Reinforcement

Question 12

How is social learning theory involved in policy and programming?

Answer 12

-SLT has been used to argue in favor of diverting juveniles from detention facilities
-Mentoring programs that give at risk youth a positive role model
-Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions in environments characterized by high degrees of violence