questions and answers
(GUARANTEED SUCCESS)
Social process and
control theories of crime: Learning theories - answer Assume that our
attitudes & behavioral decisions are acquired via communication after we
are born.
Individuals enter the world with a blank slate (tabula rasa).
Criminal & noncriminal behavior is learned through cultural values
A key feature is recognizing the influence of peers and significant others
on an individual's behavior.
Differential Association Theory - answer Sutherland
Principles of Criminology
Interested in explaining how criminal values and attitudes could be
culturally transmitted from one generation to the next.
Used classical conditioning
Primarily developed by Pavlov
Learning through associations between stimuli and responses
Differential Association Theory Cont. - answer Elements of differential
association theory
Criminal behavior is learned.
Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with
Learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes:
(a) techniques of committing the crime;
(b) the specific direction of motives, drives,
rationalizations, and attitudes.
, Differential Reinforcement Theory - answer Burgess and Akers
Learning models of operant conditioning and modeling/imitation—
decisions to commit criminal behavior could be more clearly understood.
Assumes humans are born with an innate capacity for rational decision
making.
Used operant conditioning
Primarily developed by Skinner
Behavior is influenced by reinforcements and punishments (positive and
negative reinforcements)
Bandura's Theory of Imitation/Modeling - answer A significant amount of
learning takes place absent virtually any form of conditioning or
responses to a given behavior.
People learn much of their attitudes and behavior from simply observing
the behavior of others.
Neutralization Theory - answer Sykes and Matza's Techniques of
Neutralization
Matza's Drift Theory
Most criminals are still partially committed to the dominant social order.
Neutralization Theory Cont. - answer Techniques of neutralization
Denial of responsibility
Denial of injury
Denial of the victim
Condemnation of the condemners
Appeal to higher loyalties
Control Theories - answer Assume that all people would naturally commit
crimes if it wasn't for restraints