Submitted by: Submitted by Yoshie
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Pages: 14
Category: Other Topics
Date Submitted: 03/13/2013 02:07 AM
Yoshka Allendré Prins
Explanation of Crime
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. 4 Key Elements to Ronald Akers Social Learning Theory
• Differential Association
• Definitions
• Differential Reinforcement
• Imitations
3. Discussion of Article: ‘In-depth: Youth in Crisis: Coming of Age in the 21st Century’, IRIN
4. Conclusion
5. Appendix A: ‘In-depth: Youth in Crisis: Coming of Age in the 21st Century’
6. Bibliography
1. Introduction
Ronald Akers is a well-known sociologist and is most renowned for his work with the social learning theory, which he presented together with Robert Burgess in 1966 in an article titled, ‘A differential Association-Reinforcement Theory of Criminal Behaviour’.
The social learning theory forms part of the criminology learning perspective, which was influenced by historical, social and political situations. Ronald Akers theory is a revision of Sutherland’s Theory of Differential Association. In his revised theory, Akers includes the concept of reinforcement and also uses the principles of operant psychology.
Akers took Sutherland’s first 9 propositions of behaviour theory and reorganized it into 7 propositions with the addition of reinforcement. Akers propositions are as follows:
➢ Deviant behaviour is a form of operant behaviour; therefore it must be reinforced. (Burgess and Akers, 1996:128-147)
➢ Learning may not occur only due to social reinforcement, but it may also occur due to non-social reinforcement.
➢ Learning of criminal behaviour occurs in the groups in which the individual is associated.
➢ Learning criminal behaviour is the function of effective and available reinforces (stimulus).
➢ Effective reinforcements must be analysed to understand the development of individual behaviour and behaviour within...