Learning Theories

Question 1

What is Sutherlands Differential Association?

Answer 1

Spending time with different people can affect your behaviour.

Question 2

Two important factors of SDA

Answer 2

• Imitation of criminal acts

- Learned attitudes

Question 3

Example of SDA

Answer 3

White collar crime is an example of SDA, as it is normalised through claims such as “everyone else is doing it”

Question 4

What is Skinners Operant?

Answer 4

If a particular behaviour results in a reward, it is likely to be repeated

Question 5

What is behaviourism?

Answer 5

The cause of someones behaviour. It lies in the reinforcements and punishments that shape it

Question 6

Positive reinforcement example

Answer 6

Theft - reward of it without consequences - likely to repeat

Question 7

Negative reinforcement example

Answer 7

Theft - caught and sent to prison - unlikely to repeat

Question 8

What happens if crime has more rewarding consequences than punishing ones?

Answer 8

The individual would be more likely to engage in criminal behaviour

Question 9

What is Banduras social learning?

Answer 9

We learn our behaviour from observing and imitating other people

Question 10

Role models

Answer 10

We model ourselves based on how we see our ‘role models’ behaving.

Question 11

Explain the Bobo Doll experiment

Answer 11

All groups saw the model attack the Bobo doll

• Group one saw the model rewarded and therefore repeated the behaviour
• Group two saw the model punished and therefore didn’t repeat the behaviour

Question 12

Pro of Banduras Social Learning Pt 1

Answer 12

+It takes account of the fact that we are social beings, and we learn from the experiences of others, not just from our own direct experience.

Question 13

Cons of Banduras Social Learning Pt 1

Answer 13

-It is based on laboratory studies.

Question 14

Pros of Sutherlands Differential Association

Answer 14

+Supports the theory that crime often runs in the family, as people with criminal parents are likely to become criminal after learning family techniques
+Attitudes of work groups can normalise crimes, enabling people to justify their behaviour. This is a strength because it shows that people imitate other’s behaviours, especially the people in their immediate social environment

Question 15

Cons of Sutherlands Differential Association

Answer 15

• Not everyone exposed to ‘criminal influences’ automatically become criminal. This is a weakness because, it shows that Sutherlands theory is not as effective as it seems
• It doesn’t consider people who are self-motivated to offend. This is a weakness because, some people commit crimes based on their own free will, and not just because of their learned behaviours

Question 16

Pros of Skinners Operant

Answer 16

+Skinner did a study with animals that showed they learned through reinforcement. This is a strength, because it proves that positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement can I fluence a person’s behaviour
+Another strength is that the theory can be applied to criminal behaviour, as Jeffery states people who get more reward are likely to offend again. This is a strength because, it allows us to understand why people may commit a crime, so we can learn how to change their behaviourism

Question 17

Cons of Skinners Operant

Answer 17

• Based on studies of animals, so it is questionable whether the data is very accurate when compared to human behaviour
• Another weakness is that the theory ignores free will, suggesting people cannot choose their course of action despite punishment

Question 18

Where do we learn our behaviours? SDA

Answer 18

From our family and peers

Question 19

What is imitation? SDA

Answer 19

Individuals can acquire criminal skills and techniques through observing those around them

Question 20

What is Learned attitudes? SDA

Answer 20

Socialisation within the group exposes the individual to attitudes and values about the law.

Question 21

What happens if the attitudes are more unfavourable? SDA

Answer 21

If the individual internalises more unfavourable, then they are more likely to become criminal

Question 22

What if we see the role model rewarded?

Answer 22

If we see the model being rewarded for their behaviour, we are more likely to imitate it than if we see them being punished for it

Question 23

Pros of Banduras Social Learning Pt 2

Answer 23

+It shows children who observed aggressive behaviour being rewarded, imitated that behaviour.

Question 24

Pros of BSL pt 2.2

Answer 24

This shows the importance of role models in learning deviant behaviour.

Question 25

Pros of BSL pt 1.2

Answer 25

This is a strength because, if we understand why people commit crime, we can try to prevent it, by rewarding good behaviour

Question 26

Cons of BSL pt 1.2

Answer 26

This is a weakness because, it is an artificial environment and may not be applicable to real life, so it may not be effective in explaining criminal behaviour

Question 27

Cons of BSL pt 2

Answer 27

-It assumes people’s behaviour is completely determined by their learning experiences and ignores their freedom of choice.

Question 28

Cons of BSL pt 2.2

Answer 28

This is a weakness because, some people are forced into committing crimes due to their social environment, and so their learning experiences may not be effective in explaining criminality