Theories of Crime and Justice: Social Learning Theories

Introduction

• Instructor: Daniel McCartney
• Focus: Social Learning Theories in crime and justice
  • Explains transmission of criminal behaviors and values
  • Influence on criminal justice policies

Core Concepts

• Social Learning Theory: Draws from sociology and psychology
  • Purpose: Understand how criminal values, ideas, and techniques are learned

Differential Association Theory (Edwin Southerland)

• Criminal behavior is learned
  • Through interaction with others
  • Techniques, attitudes, and motives learned from personal groups
• Factors influencing learning:
  • Frequency: More frequent exposure increases likelihood
  • Duration: Longer exposure strengthens influence
  • Priority: Early learned behaviors (e.g., from family) have strong impact
  • Intensity: Strong emotional bonds enhance learning

Expansion by Ronald L. Burgess and Ronald Akres

• Differential Reinforcement
  • Inspired by behavioral psychology
  • Positive Reinforcement: Behaviors repeated if followed by rewards
  • Negative Reinforcement: Reduced likelihood of behavior if followed by punishments
• Elements Introduced by Akres:
  • Imitation: Copying observed behaviors (e.g., shoplifting)
  • Social Reinforcement: Approval from society reinforces behaviors
  • Discriminative Stimuli: Environmental cues indicating behavior consequences
• Mechanisms of Reinforcement:
  • Positive: Adding desirable stimulus (e.g., praise from peers)
  • Negative: Removing undesirable stimulus (e.g., avoiding bullying)
  • Direct: Learning from direct consequences (e.g., gains from burglary)
  • Vicarious: Observing consequences of others' actions

Definitions and Techniques of Neutralization

• Definitions
  • Personal attitudes attached to behaviors
  • General: Beliefs about law and morality
  • Specific: Justifications for specific behaviors
• Techniques of Neutralization (Gresham Sykes & David Matza)
  • Denial of Responsibility: Blaming circumstances
  • Denial of Injury: Belief no real harm caused
  • Denial of the Victim: Victim deserved the act
  • Condemnation of the Condemners: Criticizing those who disapprove
  • Appeal to Higher Loyalties: Justifying actions by a higher cause

Strengths and Limitations

• Strengths
  • Explains group learning dynamics
  • Supported by research (e.g., 2010 meta-analysis)
• Limitations
  • Overemphasis on environment
  • Struggles with spontaneous acts
  • Challenges with measuring effects in real settings

Policy Implications

• Early Interventions: Promote pro-social behaviors
• Correctional Programs: Replace criminal behaviors with acceptable ones
• Community Structures: Strengthen positive networks
• Educational Programs: Teach consequences of crime

Conclusion

• Continued Learning: Encourage further exploration and understanding
• Resources: Additional materials available for further study