WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology sample

UNIT 2 CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES Learning theories Learning theories are based on the assumption that offending is a set of behaviours that are learned in the same way as other behaviours. Many of the studies that we will look at emphasise the family and peer group as potential sources of criminal behaviour. Think about what you have learned from your teachers. What happens if you fail to hand in your homework? Are you punished perhaps with detention? So have you learned not to repeat such behaviour? Have you ever received a treat for positive behaviour? This is the same principle for learning theories. Albert Bandura – social learning theory (SLT) Bandura believes that people learn by watching the behaviour of others. If children watch adults gaining pleasure from an activity, or being punished for an activity, they will either repeat or reject those behaviours. Aggression can be learned from watching others behave in an aggressive manner. To prove his ideas, Bandura conducted a series of experiments involving a bobo doll. AC2.2 DESCRIBE INDIVIDUALISTIC THEORIES OF CRIMINALITY ASSESSMENT CRITERION CONTENT AMPLIFICATION AC2.2 You should be able to … Describe individualistic theories of criminality Individualistic theories • learning theories • psychodynamic • psychological theories You should have knowledge of a range of theories, e.g.: • Bandura • Freud • Eysenck Learning theories can account for criminality. Albert Bandura (1925– ) 96