Understanding Criminal Behavior Flashcards
What is the differential reinforcement theory?
people learn social behavior by operant conditioning—behavior controlled by stimuli that follow the behavior.
Behavior is reinforced when positive rewards are gained (positive reinforcement) or punishment is avoided (negative reinforcement).
It is weakened by negative stimuli (punishment) and loss of reward (negative punishment).
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What is the theory of differential association
developed by criminologist Edwin Sutherland.
It states that:
(1) criminal behavior is learned;
(2) it is learned from other people in a process of communication;
(3) criminal behavior is acquired through participation with intimate personal groups;
(4) the learning process includes the shaping of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes;
(5) the directions of motives are learned from the favorable or unfavorable interpretations of applicable laws;
(6) a person becomes a criminal because of an excess of conclusions favorable to violation of the law over conclusions unfavorable to violation of the law;
(7) differential association may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity;
(8) learning criminal behavior involves all the mechanisms of other learning;
(9) learning differs from pure imitation; and
(10) while criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by these needs and values.
What is social control theory?
Social control theory suggests that the less attached an individual is to social institutions and groups, the greater that individual’s chances of violating the law are
social control theory “assumes the bond of affection for conventional persons is a major deterrent to crime. The stronger this bond, the more likely the person is to take it into account when and if he contemplates a criminal act.” What essentially happens, the theory suggests, is that people confronted with the possibility of violating a law are likely to ask themselves questions such as, “What will my spouse—or my mother and father—think if they find out?” To the extent that individuals believe that other people whose opinions are important to them will be disappointed or ashamed, and to the extent that they care deeply that these people will feel this way, they will be deterred from committing a criminal act.
What is B F Skinner’s theory?
Skinner says that we can condition incompatible behavior that interferes with the person’s usual acts.
Instead of punishing a child’s emotional tantrums, for example, the behaviorist rewards the child for controlling emotional outbursts; we drive the tantrums into extinction by not responding, and reinforce the stoical behavior.
A destructive behavior is offset by an incompatible productive one.
Since fraud involves dishonesty, secretiveness, and antagonistic behaviors, the astute manager finds ways to reward the opposite behaviors—honesty, openness, and cooperation.
