Individualistic theories of crime Flashcards
notes (81 cards)
Describe the Individualistic Theory of Crime.
Individualistic theories are psychological theories suggesting that criminality has psychological rather than biological causes, with some overlap with biological and sociological theories.
How do learning theories explain criminal behaviour?
Learning theories suggest that criminal behaviours are learned either directly through reward and punishment or indirectly by observing others being rewarded or punished and imitating that behaviour.
Define Social Learning Theory.
Social Learning Theory attempts to explain socialization and its effect on the development of the self, focusing on individual learning processes and societal influences.
What is the role of role models in Social Learning Theory?
Role models are individuals whose behaviour we observe and imitate, and their actions can be reinforced vicariously, becoming internalized as part of our own behaviour.
How does Social Learning Theory relate to crime?
According to Social Learning Theory, individuals engage in crime due to their associations with others who commit crimes, viewing such behaviour as desirable or justifiable.
Who is Albert Bandura and what is he known for?
Albert Bandura is a Canadian-born American psychologist known for originating social cognitive theory and for his modelling study on aggression, the ‘Bobo doll’ experiment.
Explain the concept of vicarious reinforcement as proposed by Bandura.
Vicarious reinforcement occurs when an individual observes someone being rewarded for a behaviour, making them more likely to imitate that behaviour.
What are ‘models’ in the context of Bandura’s theory?
‘Models’ are individuals from whom we learn behaviour, and we tend to imitate those who hold a higher status than ourselves.
What impact do positive and negative consequences have on behaviour imitation according to Bandura?
Positive consequences make it more likely to imitate a model’s behaviour, while negative consequences make it less likely.
Describe the Bobo doll study conducted by Bandura.
The Bobo doll study involved children observing two different models: one aggressive model who displayed aggression towards the doll by punching, kicking, and hitting it.
Describe Bandura’s findings related to the BOBO doll experiment.
Bandura’s BOBO doll experiment demonstrated that children imitate aggressive behaviour observed in adults, particularly when that behaviour is rewarded.
How does social learning theory explain the acquisition of deviant behaviour in children?
Social learning theory posits that children learn deviant behaviour by observing role models and imitating their actions, especially when those actions are rewarded.
Define Differential Association Theory as proposed by Edwin Sutherland.
Differential Association Theory suggests that individuals learn criminal behaviour and values from their associations with others, particularly family and peer groups.
What are the two factors that Sutherland identified as influencing criminal behaviour?
Sutherland identified imitation, where individuals acquire criminal skills by observing others, and learned attitudes, where socialization in a group influences a person’s norms and values.
How did Osbourne and West’s study contribute to the understanding of criminal behaviour in families?
Osbourne and West found that 40% of sons with criminal fathers acquired a criminal conviction by age 18, compared to only 13% of sons without criminal fathers, highlighting the influence of familial associations.
Evaluate the strengths of Differential Association Theory.
Strengths include the existence of crime families supporting learned social norms and evidence that juvenile delinquents often associate with peers exhibiting antisocial behaviour.
What are some weaknesses of Differential Association Theory?
Weaknesses include the fact that not everyone exposed to criminal behaviour becomes a criminal and that individuals may learn about crime without ever committing it.
Explain the concept of Operant Learning Theory.
Operant Learning Theory states that behaviours are influenced by the consequences they produce; behaviours followed by rewards are likely to be repeated, while those followed by punishment are less likely to occur.
How does Differential Reinforcement Theory relate to criminal behaviour?
Differential Reinforcement Theory, as proposed by Skinner, suggests that criminal behaviour is learned through the reinforcement of behaviours, where more rewarding criminal acts are more likely to be repeated.
What types of rewards might encourage criminal behaviour according to Jeffery’s perspective?
Rewards that might encourage criminal behaviour include financial gain, emotional benefits such as friendships and family connections, and respect from peers.
Discuss the strengths of Operant Learning Theory based on Skinner’s experiments.
Strengths of Operant Learning Theory include its foundation in empirical research, as Skinner’s experiments demonstrated the principles of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behaviour.
Describe how reinforcement learning can apply to criminal behaviour according to Jeffery.
Jeffery states that if crime leads to more rewarding than punishing outcomes for an individual, they will be more likely to offend.
Identify a major weakness of reinforcement learning theories in relation to human behaviour.
Reinforcement learning theories are based on studies of animals, not on crime in humans.
Explain a limitation of reinforcement learning theories regarding internal processes.
These theories ignore internal mental processes such as thinking, personal values, and attitudes.
