Social Learning And Social Control Theories

Question 1

Sutherland-differential association

Answer 1

• proposed that through the process of socializing and interacting, individuals learn the values, attitudes, and motives for criminal behaviour
• people are born with equal tendency to become criminals (the difference is the process of socialization)
• explained how delinquents learned how to commit crime and the skills/justifications for crime
• crime is the consequence of learning new definitions for the criminal act
  -learning new motivations and values may lead a person to see crime through a positive perspective (definitions favourable to crime > negative definitions of crime)
• weakening of traditional forms of social control (family, school, community, religion) cause social disorganization which lead to higher criminality rates

Question 2

Social learning theory

Answer 2

• Behaviour is determined by a cognitive process of learning (personality and environment in constant interaction)
• consequences of actions: positive and negative stimuli (encourage or discourage behaviours)

Question 3

Social control theory

Answer 3

• Social control: political activity of law-and-order institutions (police, courts, prisons); process of enforcing social rules to govern society (how government/people of power exercise their authority over society)
  -Crime occurs when the social bonds between the individuals and society are weakened (laxed social control)

Question 4

Social control/bonding theory (Hirschi)

Answer 4

• study the causes of conformity
• most people have antisocial tendencies (tend to misbehave); social bonds lead to conformity and therefore reduce delinquency
• bonds: personal attachment to traditional institutions (parents, peers, school, religion) and their values
  → commitment to social values
  → engaging in the community to learn about the values of society