WDW101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Social Learning Theory, Edwin Sutherland, Donald Cressey
21 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
Social learning and social control theories of crime. Origins lie in the ideas of gabriel tarde (1843-1904) and his theory of imitation. Consistent with ideas and concepts developed within psychology. Idea that crime and the values and motivations that promote crime are the product of normal human learning processes: you are the product of your learning. Criminal behavior is learned just like conventional behavior within social groups. Must learn both criminal motivations and criminal techniques: what justifies the crime, how to engage in a criminal crime. A person becomes deviant when they experience more favorable than unfavorable definitions towards deviance: not everybody you know has the same impact on your life (some may be for influential than others) Gangs socialize people into thinking and acting in a particular way. We need to justify when it is appropriate to use violence. Ron akers: deviant behavior: a social learning approach. Consistent with the principles of operant conditioning.
