1. Learning Theories

2. A Life of Crime? Could you go out tomorrow and begin a life of crime? –What kind of crime would get into? –How would you get started?

3. Learning Theory Criminal behavior is learned in a social context The main difference between criminals and non-criminals is what they have learned

4. Edwin Sutherland’s (1934) Differential Association Theory 1.Criminal behavior is learned… 2.In interaction with other people… 3.Particularly intimate groups (family and peers)

5. Differential Association Theory 4. Learning includes a.Techniques b.Motives/drives c.Rationalizations/attitudes 5. Criminals learn to define the legal code as unfavorable

6. The Heart of Differential Association Theory 6. Crime results from an excess of definitions favorable to law violations over definitions unfavorable to law violations (a ratio)

7. Differential Association Theory 7. Differential associations vary in a.Frequency b.Duration c.Temporal priority d.Intensity

8. Differential Association Theory 8. Learning crime is the same as learning anything else 9. Criminal and noncriminal behavior are the result of learned needs and values (desire for material success)

9. Refining Differential Association Theory Problem with Diff. Assoc. Theory –Learned attitudes -> behavior Differential Reinforcement Theory (Burgess, Akers)

10. Distinguishing Features of Diff. Reinforcement Theory Differential Reinforcement –Lifetime balance of anticipated or actual rewards and punishments -> probability of behavior Imitation

11. Overview Differential Association Theory (Sutherland) Differential Reinforcement Theory (Burgess and Akers)

12. Limits of Learning Theory

13. Ever Smoked Pot? Yes69.4% Smoke Pot Weekly? Yes12.5% How can we explain this?

14. Becker’s View The motivation to get high regularly is learned Users must learn to experience pot smoking as pleasurable Assumption: Users and non-users are fundamentally the same

15. Necessary Condition, 1 Learning the Technique

16. Necessary Condition, 2 Learning to connect the drug to its effects

17. Necessary Condition, 3 Learning to Enjoy the Effects

18. Why is s/he a pothead? Motivation to get high regularly is learned in the process of smoking No learning, no motivation, no regular pot smoking

19. Other Applications of Learning Theory in Criminology