Summary of the psychological explanations of crime. These theories are a must for the exam. In the summary you will find the explanations giving during the lectures combined with the information from the book Criminology. Course is given in the first year of Law in Society.
Pavlov conditioning theory, where one can be conditioned into doing certain behaviour.
(Pavlovian or classical conditioning theory)
Sutherland’s theory differential association
- You learn how to behave trough social norms, by associating observation, imitation
and internalizing
- The nature of one’s conduct is influenced by the groups of which one is a member and
other members of whom one comes in contact with on a regular basis.
- Sutherland’s theory assumes that the behaviour of a person is influenced by attitudes
favourable towards socially acceptable conducts and attitudes favouring deviance.
- This theory involves both individual and social factors.
- Two core elements: criminal behaviour is learned, and it’s learned in association with
others (not necessary people who are involved in crimes). This leads to favourable or
unfavourable behaviour towards breaking the law.
Advantage:
- Simplicity
Disadvantage:
- When people are subjected to similar circumstances, some choose to deviate while
others not always chose to deviate.
- Some say this theory is impossible in practice
Skinner operant learning theory (behaviourism)
- Skinner studied how the consequence of a particular act can shape future behaviour.
- The idea is that behaviour resulting in a desirable consequence will increase in
frequency, whereas behaviour that leads to an undesirable consequence will decrease
in frequency.
- The positive behaviour is reinforced, whereas the negative behaviour is punished.
- Core elements: antecedent conditions- behaviour- consequence
- 2 types of reinforcement and 2 types of punishment (positive and negative
reinforcement)
- Variation of this theory can be found in Jeffery’s work on differential reinforcement
, Bandura (1977)Social learning theory
- Product of behaviourism and cognitive psychology
- This theory links observational learning and direct conditioning (Sutherland’s and
skinner’s theory)
- Learning something, which leads to environmental reinforcements and punishments
- Also includes motivation
- Three types that Bandura used:
External reinforcement from the environment
Vicarious reinforcementfrom observing others
Self-reinforcementas a result of taking pleasure or pride from one’s own actions
- “Bobo doll study”
- Three elements of behaviour SORC
Stimulus: all external conditions on the person
Organism: the internal state of the individual, including representation of the external
world and their history
Response: the behavioural or motor reaction
Consequence: the pattern of reinforcers of punishers which follow
- The core of this model focusses on the processing of information and sequences of
action
Becker (1968) Rational choice theory
- The rational choice is the basis of criminal behaviour
- The individual makes a calculation between the costs one must pay and the benefit
that one could gain
- E.g., a person wants to buy a new scooter, but doesn’t have the money to do so. He
overheard someone say that if you want fast money, you should sell drugs. The
individual calculates the risk of selling drugs against the money he will make to buy a
new scooter. Is it worth it? In the end he decides that benefit outweigh the costs (the
risk of selling drugs)
Crime prevention:
- Changing the design of products making cars more difficult to break into- can
reduce crime markedly (Ekblom, 2005)
- Increased surveillance can result into a substantial reduction of urban graffiti and theft
(van Andel, 2989; Poyner, 1991)
- Reducing opportunities for trading in stolen goods not only reduces such activities,
but also reduces theft and burglary (Sutton, 2005)
- Using CPTED (Criminal Prevention trough Environmental Design)
- ‘Target removal’ can have a very substantial impact on crime- e.g., cash reduction
measures on public transport (Clarke and McGrath, 1990)
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