social learning theory

• P: the principles of social learning have been usefully applied to increase our understanding of many areas of human behaviour, including criminal behaviour.

  E: akers suggests that the probability of someone engaging in criminal behaviour increases when they are exposed to models who commit criminal behaviour, identify with these models and develop the expectation of positive consequences of their own criminal behaviour
• link for akers

  L: ulrich supports the importance of social learning, finding that the strongest cause of violent behaviour in adolescence was association with delinquent peer groups, where violence was both modelled and rewarded
• • ignores biological differences between boys and girls
  • boys display more aggression because of high levels of testosterone
  • not complete explanation for gender differences in behaviour
  • environmentally deterministic
• P: some individuals already possess deviant attitudes and its not a result of SLT and exposure to deviant role models

  a major criticism of social learning theory explanations of deviant behaviour relates to its claim that increased associations with deviant peers increases the likelihood that an individual will adopt the same values and behaviours

  E: siegel and mccormick suggest that young people who possess deviant attitudes and values would seek out peers with similar attitudes and behaviours, as they are more fun to be with
• link for siegel and mccormick

  L: the cause of delinquency, therefore, may not be social learning as a result of exposure to deviant role models, but the possession of deviant attitudes prior to contact with deviant peers