AC2.2 Flashcards
learning theories
learning theories are based on the assumption that offending is a set of behaviours that are learned in the same way as other behaviours.
many of the studies will look at the emphasis the family and peer group as potential sources of criminal behaviour.
learning theories
albert bandura - social learning theory
what he suggested
bandura believed that people learn by watching the behaviour of others. if children watch adults gaining pleasure from an activity, or being punished for an activity, they will repeat or reject those behaviours.
violence and aggression are produced by:
- an arousal event (provocation)
- learned aggressive skills
- expected success and rewards
- pro-violence values.
learning theories
albert bandura - social learning theory
what he did
bandura and the bobo doll experiment 1963
exposed children to two different adult models, an aggressive and a non-aggressive one. after witnessing the adults behaviour the children would be placed in a room without the model to see if they immitate the behaviours they had witnessed. the children copied the behaviours.
how do the findings for the bobo doll experiment account for criminality?
criminal behaviour, like any other, can be learned from observation. some people learn criminal behaviour from those around them, for example famiy. we term this observational learning. this is where viewers learn behaviours from watching others and may immitate them; many behaviours are learned from the media.
observation learning takes place in three contexts:
- in the fmaily
- in the prevalent sub-cultures
- through cultural symbols such as tv or books
psychodynamic theories
sigmund freud
what he suggested
freud believed that the best way to understand behaviour is to examine early childhood experiences and that criminality was linked to guilt. he suggested that much of our mind was in an unconscious region, similar to an iceberg where only the tip can be seen. it is our unconscious mind that controls behaviour including criminality
peronality is devided into three parts:
1. id - controls our selfish & animalistic features
2. ego - seeks rational & sensible control
3. superege - being our moral conscience
psychological theories
hans eysenck
what he suggested
eysenck believed that certain personality types are more liekly to commit crime because they crave excitement, but are slow to learn that crime has bad consequences.
extroversion/intorversion: concerns the amount of stimulation a person needs. an extrovert is sociable but can become bored very easily if there is lack of stimulation. intoverts are reliable and control their emotions
neuroticism/stability: concerns the level of emotional stability of a person. neurotics are very anxious and often irrational. where as a stable personality is alma nd emotionally in control.
psychological theories
hans eysenck
what he did
he analysed responses to a personality questionnaire on 700 soldiers who were being treated or neurotic disorders at the hospital where he worked. he believed there was a number of personality traits that were being revealed.
