Social learning theory explaining crime Flashcards
What is Bandura’s social learning theory and how does it link to crime? (3 points)
States that learning occurs indirectly through observing and imitating role models
Cognitive mediational processes are involved prior to imitation - attention, retention, motivation and motor reproduction
A person is more likely to identify with a model if they are similar and successful - why criminality is seen to run in families
What are the 2 supporting and 3 refuting pieces of evidence for social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour?
Supporting:
Bandura (1961, 1965)
Williams
Refuting:
Charlton (2000)
Comstock & Palik + Fonagy
People reoffending despite observing punishments
How does Bandura’s 1961 study support social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (3 points)
Found that boys are more likely to copy same-sex role models
Imitated physically aggressive acts by males :
Male aggressive model: 25.8
Male non-aggressive model: 1.5
Supports the notion of motor reproduction and similar role models
How does Bandura’s 1965 study support social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (2 points)
Found children are more likely to copy a role model’s aggressive acts if vicariously motivated
Imitated physically aggressive acts by females:
Model rewarded: 1.8
No consequence: 1.8
Model punished: 0.5
How is experimental evidence from Bandura limited as evidence for social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (2 points)
They were ‘snap-shot studies’ - offered aggressive imitation proximately to the modelling
The extent to which they show long-term implications is questionable
How does Williams support social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (3 points)
Conducted a longitudinal, natural study on members of a town in British Columbia being introduced to TV
They found children to be more aggressive after TV was introduced
This was because of increased exposure and observation (attention, retention) of aggressive TV shows
How do alternative explanations challenge Williams’ study which supports social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (3 points)
Williams acknowledged that increased aggression was not due to SLT mechanisms but the Frustration-aggression hypothesis
- Participants were bombarded by TV shows depicting material wealth in others
- Led to increased frustration
- Eventual cathartic aggression
Reductionist to assume that imitation after some observation is directly causal
How does Charlton (2000) refute social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (2 points)
Replicated a TV introduction study similar to Williams’ study with a different sample from a South Pacific Island
Did not find increased aggression due to observing aggression on TV - decreased reliability of SLT explanation
How do Comstock & Palik + Fonagy refute social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (3 points)
They found a small positive correlation of 0.19 between watching violent TV and aggressive behaviours
Cause and effect cannot be established due to potential confounding variables/theories
E.g. attachments of children to adults:
Fonagy suggests that poor formation of attachment seems to account for antisocial personality (lack of empathy)
How do people reoffending despite observing punishments refute social learning theory as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour? (4 points)
People sentenced to prison observe prisoners who have been punished for their criminal acts - they become unmotivated to imitate criminal acts
However, recidivism rates are high as people still re-offend - makes SLT a reductionist explanation
Biological explanations may be more valid - reduced amygdala volume (Yang et al), or an underactive prefrontal cortex (Raine et al) may predispose people to being criminals
Bandura found that boys were consistently more aggressive than females - possible link to boys having increased testosterone
