Social Learning Theory And Criminal Behavior

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Learning Theory and Criminal Behavior
Humans learn behaviors from others whether it is good or bad behaviors. Theorist first started to study the behaviors of animals; until behaviorist suggested that human behaviors are also learned. This is where research began and theorists were able to find a correlation between criminal behavior and the social learning theory. Bartol (2012) states
The essences of the social learning theory, which suggests that to understand criminal behavior we must examine perceptions, thoughts, expectancies, competencies, and values. Each person has his or her own version the world and lives by that version”. Social learning means that as humans we tend to learn “ by observing and listening to people …show more content…

Drug trafficking is defined as “ the sale and distribution of illegal drugs” (USLEGAL). The reason I decided to pair this crime with the differential association- reinforcement theory was because of the definition of this theory. Bartol (2012) states, “ Briefly, the theory states that people learn to commit deviant acts through interpersonal interactions with their social environment”. (pp 94) Drug traffickers usually learn this behavior from being associated in this environment as well as being around others who commit the same deviant act. This theory suggests that the social environment as well as the association with others teach the person to commit these criminal behaviors. Being a drug trafficker isn’t a crime that is easy to get into. You must know someone to get the supplies, be able to build clientele, and someone must teach you the art of it. Bartol (2012) …show more content…

The crucial factors are with whom a person associates, for how long, how frequently, how personally the meaningful the associations, and how early they occur in the person’s development. (Bartol, 2012, pp. 95)
This specific crime fits the principle of the learning theory because it focuses on reinforcement, learning from peers, being in a social environment and conforming to it, and it plays on how the person thinks and values himself. Like stated above a person lives in their own version of the world. In conclusion I believe that learning theory can account for criminal behaviors. It can’t account for all criminal behaviors but it can help account for some. I believe this because Bartol stated

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