Behavioral Learning Theory

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The Behavioral Learning Theory believes that behavior is learned from either the environment, the people in the individual's life, the media, or society as a whole. This theory contradicts the Biological theory, which states that criminals are "born to be bad" and that criminal behavior is inherited. The behavioral theory looks at the environment as well as society's impact on how an individual acts which might be the reason for criminal behavior. This theory blames the environment as well as the individual by saying it is a learned behavior and that it also was a choice they made. A basic assumption is that behavior is learned and modeled by individuals, groups, the media, and society as a whole. The theory explains why people …show more content…

There is said to be many limitations to learning theory, which may explain why only some of those exposed to negative learning patterns, role models, and reinforcement actually adopt them. This means that only some people can actually tell the difference between what is fiction and what is considered realistic. One policy implication of behavioral and learning models is to reward the conventional and positive behavior. This goes back to Pavlov who introduced the classical conditioning and Skinner who introduced the operant conditioning. Pavlov believed that stimuli will always produce a given effect while Skinner believed that past crimes are rewarded. The policies for this theory argues that strengthening family bonds, teaching values and morals, and teaching children from a young age the difference between right and wrong as well as the difference between fiction and reality is the key to lessen crimes.

Reference Page
Adolescent Cigarette Smoking in U.S. Racial/Ethnic Subgroups: Findings from the National Education Longitudinal Study
Robert A. Johnson; John P. Hoffmann
Journal of Health and Social Behavior > Vol. 41, No. 4 (Dec., 2000), pp. 392-407
Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-1465%28200012%2941%3A4%3C392%3AACSIUR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R

Review: Reintegrative Shaming: A New General Theory of Crime?
Author(s) of Review: Ronald

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