Behavioral Theory

Learning to be a Criminal: Behavioral and Social Learning Theories

How is it possible for people to commit crimes? Now when it comes to crimes like drug dealing and gambling, it's obvious that people want money. Just think about it though. No one in their right mind result to criminal activity because deep down, they feel that it's the right thing to do. Many theories have been made to determine the exact reason people turn into criminals. The following discusses and gives some example of the behavioral theory.

It is stated in our textbook, the behavioral theory view behavior as learned through interactions with other. Behavior that is rewarded becomes habitual and behavior that is punished becomes extinguished (Senna/Siegal, 2006). This is not just a theory itself. There is another theory within this. The authors also talk about the social learning theory which views that human behavior is learned from being around others or the media. It goes on to say that those who only know violent behavior will react to situations with violence (2006). To thoroughly understand these theories, I have provided the following examples.

With so much violence and negativity shown today, it's a surprise that many parents allow young children so much access to television. Especially when they're not being monitored while doing so. According to our textbook, a national survey reported that eighty percent of the public believed that TV influences violence. I also agree with this. Young children aren't capable of determining what's right and wrong on their own. So whether it's the Power Rangers or fighting families on a talk show, the child is going to remember and take in information.

For example, my six-year-old cousin watches Spiderman all the time. Everything he says and does, he mainly got from this cartoon. And to him, Spiderman is always right, and we're wrong. This is a very good example of how television impacts a child's mind. Another example is a child thinking guns are cool because he sees "cool kids" on TV with guns. Although there is proof the TV has good and bad effects on a child, this is one of the many examples of the social learning theory.

In a home where there's always arguments or violence, a child is definitely vulnerable to learning these kinds of behaviors. In Unit 3 on the discussion board, Desalynn Coleman says that most violent criminal offenders went through a childhood experience that caused them to have aggressive behavior (2005). For instance, a young boy constantly sees his father beat his mother. So he may grow up to be the kind of man that beats his wife. There are many other negative effects also.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, children exposed to domestic violence are at risk for developmental problems, psychiatric disorders, school difficulties, aggressive behavior and low self-esteem (2005). So not only may the child turn out like his dad, he may be mentally and emotionally damaged. This issue is also similar to children of drug addicts. If children see their parents using drugs...they might find it easier to justify there own use (Robert Needlman, 2005). Children learn their parent's behavior mostly when they're little. The real influences tend to occur