The Emergence of Violent Behaviour: An Examination of Individual and Social Factors: Social Theories

Social Theories

In contrast to the individualistic explanations of crime there are theories which focus more specifically upon the social processes and social world in which the offender is a part.

The most widely researched social theories of criminal behaviour are those which have their basis in social learning theory.

Social Learning Theory

According to learning theorists, all human behaviour, whether criminal or not is learned. The principals of operant learning were formulated by the influential American behaviourist B.F. Skinner (1953) who maintained that behaviour is learnt and strengthened through the particular reinforcement that it brings.

Differential reinforcement theory as discussed by Jeffery (1965) is built upon the foundations of operant learning, and maintains that criminal behaviour is acquired and maintained by the reinforcing consequences it produces, each individual’s unique learning experiences would therefore be important in determining when criminal behaviour is likely to arise and whether it is likely to be repeated.

Social learning theory as conceived by Bandura (1977) was developed in part out of Skinner’s theory of operant learning, but it also gives more focus to the importance of learning through observation, modelling and imitation. The more high-status or…