Learning Theory

Question 1

Basis of the theory

Answer 1

Criminal behaviour is learnt, like any other behaviour through communication with others and seeing, either directly or vicariously the consequences of our actions.
Learning is influenced most significantly by those closest to us.

Question 2

Who are the key theorists?

Answer 2

Sutherland, Jeffries, Bandura and Sykes & Matza

Question 3

What were Sutherland’s ideas?

Answer 3

Differential association

• techniques and motivations of crime are learnt
• learning occurs through association
• learning occurs within close personal groups
• learning includes techniques, attitudes, drives and motives
• Drives/motives are learnt from perspectives of the law as favourable or unfavourable
• People are more likely to become criminal if the are exposed to more perceptions favourable to breaking the law
• Experiences vary in frequency, intensity and importance
• learning criminal behaviour i just like learning any other behaviour

Question 4

What were Jeffries ideas?

Answer 4

OPERANT PRINCIPLES

• The way be behave produces consequences which are either rewarding or aversive
• Rewarded behaviours will be reinforced and continue whereas aversive behaviours will be avoided
• Crime is maintained because of direct individual consequences

Question 5

What were Bandura’s ideas? (and Akers)

Answer 5

Social learning theory

• people learn by environmental reinforcement AND by observing others
• external reinforcement: operant conditioning (Jeffries)
• vicarious reinforcement: other’s experiences
• self reinforcement: living up to their own expectations

Criticism: why do people still commit crime when they are being caught?

Question 6

what were Sykes and Matza’s ideas?

Answer 6

Neutralisation (1957): people apply different techniques to justify behaviour
1. responsibility is deniable (someone else’s fault)
2. Lots of other people are doing the same
3. There is no harm - the victim can afford it/ drugs are only effecting me etc.
4. People you value approve of the behaviour
5. The victim deserved it anyway
If the behaviour is justified by any of these reasons it will not be reinforced as a negative behaviour

Question 7

What were Matza’s ideas (alone, later)?

Answer 7

Drift (1964)

• process which explains the fluidity between criminals and law abiding behaviour
• First crime: might feel guilty, may counter balance with law abiding behaviour
• Might commit again:
• –preparation: recognise and realise that a criminal act is both achievable and feasible
• –desperation” presence of will to commit crime from extraordinary circumstance or sense of loss of control
• this feeling usually decreases over time, explaining why crime decreases with age

Question 8

Application of the theory

Answer 8

Focus on which groups are meaningful to individuals and explore behaviours they promote and validate

Question 9

Criticism

Answer 9

• original of crime remains unexplained
• difficult to control or prevent crime
• doesn’t explain
• –individual crime: arson
• –corporate/state crime

Question 10

Example

Answer 10

Gangs: bikies

• criminal behaviour is accepted, tolerated and encouraged
• if someone does something wrong the way the group deals with the issue is often through criminal means: normalises crime