Transcript The social learning theory of crime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHi2dxSf9hw
Social Learning Theory
Albert Bandura
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you should be
able to:
• Describe Social Learning Theory
• Apply Social Learning Theory and
behaviourist explanations of learning to
crime
• Describe and evaluate Research Studies
to support the social Learnig explanation
of crime
Social Learning Theory
• Is the theory that we learn behaviour through
observation.
• Criminal behaviour is seen as no different
from any other type of behaviour- learnt
through observation.
• Individuals learn from role ‘models’.
Social Learning Theory
Key Terms
• For your Notes
• Observational Learning
• Vicarious (Indirect)
Reinforcement
• Vicarious (Indirect)
Punishment
• Model
• Imitation
• Mental Representation
(Cognition)
Social Learning Stages
• Attention
• Retention
• Reproduction
• Motivation
• Imitation
Model Characteristics
• Age
• Gender
• Status
Exam Board Mark Scheme
• The role of direct reinforcement in aggression
• The role of indirect reinforcement in aggression
• The role of observational learning
• Modelling (e.g. stages, characteristics of the
role model)
• Key studies into the social learning theory of
aggression (e.g. Bandura et al’s ‘Bobo doll’ study)
Research Study
• Bandura et al. (1961)
• Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zerCK0lRjp8
Imitation is due to the consequence of the
observed behaviour.
If it is……………
• reinforced then children are more likely to
imitate.
• punished then children are less likely to
imitate.
The observed reinforcement and punishment.
Is vicarious.
Bandura variation study 1963
Group 1~ The aggression from the adult was
REINFORCED by praise
Group 2~ The aggression from the adult was
PUNISHED (told off)
Group 3~ The aggression from the adult had no
response (control group)
Later children were able to play with the ‘bobo doll’:
Group 1~ Children imitated many of the verbal and
physical behaviours (aggressive reinforced model)
Group 2~ Children imitated the behaviour the least
(aggressive punishment model)
Group 3~ Children imitated the model some of the
time (control model- neither reinforced or
punished)
What does all that mean?
Aggressive and violent behaviour can be learnt
from observing the behaviour of models.
Individuals learn from watching the
behaviour of those around them, even when
they themselves are not being directly
reinforced.
It has been estimated that
a child entering secondary
school will have seen 8,000
murders and 100,000 other
violent acts on TV.
Eron (1995)
The ‘how to guide’ of
applying a theory
to explain criminality
Step One
Define the theory
Bandura outlined Social learning theory. SLT
proposes that we learn by ………
Step Two
Outline the Rules of the Theory?
Do you know the rules of social
learning theory?
• Write them down
• ARRMI
The rules
1) Behaviour has to be noticed (ATTENTION)
2) The behaviour has to be remembered
(RETENTION)
3) the person has to be capable of reproducing
the behaviour (REPRODUCTION)
4) There has to be a motivation to repeat the
behaviour (MOTIVATION)
5) Leading to IMITATION
Modelling
Refers to the behaviour being
demonstrated as well as being
reproduced
Further more
1. Children/people copy
2. They make a choice about who they copy
3. They are more likely to copy a higher status
same sex role model
4. They are most likely to copy if they see their
model rewarded. (Vicarious reinforcement)
Step Three
Apply social learning theory to
explaining crime
It is time to link it all together.
Be Specific.
This is means taking these rules and suggesting that, as this is
how most people learn most things, that this is how people learn
to become criminals!
Furthermore it can explain why people choose to become
criminals.
(i.e. if a person strongly identifies with a role model, they really
want to be like them, if the role model is a criminal then……
D. O. A.
• Define the theory
• Outline the theory (fully)
• Apply the theory (be specific to AT LEAST ONE
element of the theory and link to the
question)
You will now have to describe the process that
goes on when a person decides to copy a certain
behaviour.
You also need to describe the further processes
involved in continuing to copy that behaviour to
the point that the person themselves become a
criminal
Activity
o Read a story about a boy of 15 named Joe
o Use what you know of social learning theory
to explain what happened to Joe that resulted
in him committing a number of criminal acts.
o See your work sheet
Joe’s story
Joe was a lonely boy. For the early part of his life he had gone
to 6 schools as his father, a soldier travelled around with his
different postings. Then Joe’s dad left him and his mum. His
dad then had a baby with a girl only 9 years older than Joe.
Joe was very angry with his dad. Although he was also angry
at his mum for letting it happen.
A local gang had allowed Joe to join them. Taz the gang
leader often asked him to do little tasks for him such as
sending messages or buying sweets for him. Taz wouldn’t let
the others go too far bullying or teasing Joe .Joe wished he
could be like Taz. Everyone liked him, he made them all laugh
but was so tough no one would ever disagree with him. Taz
had respect. No one respected Joe and from his point of view
no one liked him either. When Taz was short of money he
would shoplift what he needed. When Taz was angry he
would cause damage to property in the park. When Taz was
bored he would steal a car.
It wasn’t long before Joe would join Taz in the stolen cars. One
day when Joe wanted to impress a girl he thought he would
steal a car by himself.
Unpick the story and label the elements of social
learning theory.
noticing
copying
choosing a high status role model
motivation
Take each rule and say how it applies to Joe
1
Children/people copy
So Joe is quite likely to copy the behaviour he sees around him anyway
2. They make a choice about who they copy
Joe has chosen to hang around with Taz he does this repeatedly so having
chosen it it must be reinforcing in some way
3. They are more likely to copy a higher status same sex role model
Joe looks up to Taz he is older people like him and respect him Taz is therefore
an older high status role model (within the cultural norms that Joe is living in)
he is also male so it is very likely that Joe would choose to copy him
4.
They are most likely to copy if they see their model rewarded. (Vicarious
reinforcement)
Joe sees Taz get rewarded in many ways. He gets a buz when he shoplifts or
steals cars. He gets praise from the gang he gets things for free and he seems
to look happier after he has vented his anger through vandalism. Most of all
he is liked and has respect. That is exactly the type of reward Joe would like
5. Behaviour has to be noticed
Joe notices everything Taz does because he admires him and spends time
with him. Stories about events are often reputed to show off to others.
He could hardly fail to notice
6. The behaviour has to be remembered
The events are too exciting to forget
7. The person has to be capable of reproducing the behaviour
Joe is able bodied and has been watching Taz drive for months
8. There has to be a motivation to repeat the behaviour
Joe is angry at his dad, getting into trouble is perfect revenge. Joe wants
respect being a bad boy gets respect. Joe wants excitement its exciting.
Joe wants to impress a girl. Joe has plenty of motivation to continue to
copy Taz s behaviour
In the eyes of the law Joe is now a criminal if he internalises this label he
will be a criminal in every sense
o Although social learning theory is a theory in its own right it
shares many concepts with traditional behaviourism/learning
theory.
o SLT does not dispute the role of primary and secondary
reinforcement in learning. Nor does it dispute the role of
punishment.
o However SL theorists disagree with behaviourist over the
issue of the person making a choice in their role model.
o They claim that most behaviour is learnt by copying but
accept that a lot of behaviour is learnt through direct
experiences of reinforcement and punishment. And they
agree that once a person has chosen to copy a behaviour they
are more likely to continue to use that behaviour if they find it
reinforcing.
o So when you discuss the processes of social learning theory in
criminal behaviour do not be afraid to use behaviourist
concepts.
Evaluate the SLT
Explanation of Crime
CASTLES
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
Researcher/s
Date
Define the Theory
Outline the Theory
Apply the Theory
Evaluation
C onflicting Evidence
A pplication
S supporting evidence
T estible
L imitations
E vidence (based on)
S ocially sensitive