AC 2.2 - social learning theories of criminality

Question 1

What are social learning theories of criminality?

Answer 1

• behaviour is learned in social contexts through observation of behaviour and rewards or punishments received for that behaviour

Question 2

What is observational learning?

Answer 2

We imitate the behaviours of role models or reject them which mainly occurs mainly in families through interactions with subcultures or cultural symbols

Question 3

Procedure of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1963)

Answer 3

Children were exposed 2 different adult role models. One behaved aggressively towards the Bobo doll and the other didn’t

Question 4

Findings of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1963)

Answer 4

Aggressive behaviour modelled was imitated by the child and non-aggressive behaviour shown by adult models behaved less aggressively

Question 5

Conclusions of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1963)

Answer 5

study shows aggressive behaviour is learnt when :
- we pay attention to role models
- we imitate their behaviour

Question 6

What was different about of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1965)?

Answer 6

It outlined to test vicarious reinforcement

Question 7

Vicarious Reinforcement

Answer 7

reinforcement of behaviour gained by watching another person being rewarded or punished

Question 8

Procedure of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1965)

Answer 8

3 conditions :
- GROUP A = observed role model’s aggression being rewarded (sweets & drink)
- GROUP B = observed role model being punished for aggression (scolded)
- GROUP C = saw no consequences (control group)

Question 9

Conclusions of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1965)

Answer 9

• GROUP B learned aggression through observational learning but didn’t imitate it because they expected negative consequences
• when a role models behaviour is rewarded (positive reinforcement) it is more likely to be imitated

Question 10

Findings of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1965)

Answer 10

more children in the reward and control conditions imitated the aggressive behaviour of role models than those in the punishment condition

Question 11

Sunderland et al - Theory of differential association (1947)

Answer 11

• people aren’t born criminal = fabula rosa (blank state at birth)
• criminality is learned through social interactions with people with pro-crime views
• we make rational choices about which laws are favourable or unfavourable to us
  - these are influenced by the views of those we associate with
• individuals may start offending when the number of unfavourable laws becomes excessive

Question 12

Osborn & West (1979)

Answer 12

Quantitative study on criminal records of fathers and sons to look at the influences on criminal behaviour

Question 13

Findings of Osborn & West (1979)

Answer 13

Sons of fathers with criminal records were more likely to have acquired one by the age of 18 ( 40% compared to 13%) compared to sons with a father with no criminal record

Question 14

Conclusions of Osborn & West (1979)

Answer 14

Criminality is passed through in our observations of our environment especially during primary socialisation