Within Bandura’s social learning theory sits another prominent theory that can be accurately applied to the case of Ottis Toole, prominent criminologist Lonnie Athen’s theory of The Process of Violentization takes a more in depth look into social learning and provides good insight into the clear relationship between the cognitive process involved in observation during social learning and the violent behaviour of criminals (Rhodes, 1999). Athen’s theory of The Process of Violentization is mainly focussed on the heavy role those in the criminal’s “primary group” can play on him/her, this being their parent or guardian figure, relative, or close friends (Rhodes, 2000). The violentization process as described by Athens is broken up into four main stages, firstly brutalisation. Brutalisation can take place at any age and involves the individual being subject to hostile or violent behaviour or being forced to commit hostile or violent behaviour, this stage …show more content…
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