Operant conditioning

Question 1

strength: applicability

Answer 1

Skinner’s studies of learning in animals show that they learn from experience through reinforcement. Some human learnings is also of the kind

Question 2

strength: jeffery

Answer 2

This can be applied to offending. Jeffery (1959) states that if crime leads to more rewarding than punishing outcomes for an individual, they will be more likely to offend.

Question 3

weakness: rats

Answer 3

Operant learning theory is based on studies of learning in animals. This is not an adequate model of how humans learn criminal behaviour.

Question 4

weakness: ignores mental

Answer 4

The theory ignores internal mental processes such as thinking, personal values and attitudes. It explains criminal behaviour solely in terms of external rewards and punishments