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Social Learning Theory: Theoretical Insight Into Corruption

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Chapter 9: Theoretical Insight into Corruption Social Learning Theory There have been numerous attempts to understanding police corruption. With no clear explanation through theories, police corruption can be associated with previous behavior models throughout the philosophical discipline. One of the most applicable concepts is the Social Learning Theory presented by Akers. Akers’ theory is presented as a contemporary spin from the differential association theory that implies subcultures and peer groups facilitate deviant behavior through peer influence (Alpert & Dunham, 1997). Akers’ social learning theory positions itself that peer association, attitudes, reinforcements, and modeling are the predicative relationship to delinquency and …show more content…

Three factors inside the differential theory consider the age of the “abnormal person”, the level of contact with the peer pressure, and the proportion of good and bad the deviant person has had in there in life. For example, a police officer who has experienced a lot of happiness, “good dealings” in life, and had a predominantly structured life will less likely conform to corruptive behaviors as an adult, or in this case, an officer. The other half of this example, according to the differential associations theory is that adults who believe they have worked for nothing, never got what they necessarily deserved, and feel that the easy come easy go is a standard part of society may have a higher tendency to be involved in corrupt activity. Now let’s compare this to another deviant style behavior. I was a smoker for most 25 years. When I started it was out of peer pressure from friends in high school. My parents did not smoke. However, since I was predominant with my deviant peer group more hours a week then perhaps my family, I took on the acceptable behaviors of my peer group. The same could be said for corruptive attitudes and the connectivity of deviant behavior and how it is controlled by peer …show more content…

This theory suggests, the explanation to police transgression is to improve the psychosomatic selection of police officers so that the "rotten apples" are disqualified from the "barrel." Peripheral factors such as police sub-cultural customs, peer manipulation, and economic factors may pilot some officers to believe that antisocial or deviant behavior is the most suitable and most beneficial approach to their role as a police officer. The surroundings in which police officers work offers unlimited prospect for corruption and deception, and these environmental factors may lead to sociopathic behavior. Early intervention is critical for officers who show signs of stress, anxiety, depression, or any additional negative behavior. Periodic, ongoing psychological testing of officers, stress management training, and the existence of alternative intervention measures can assist in preventing the stresses of policing from leading to serious police misconduct (Griffin & Ruiz,

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While a few theories are not as regular, others have developed and are utilized as a part of numerous criminal reviews today. Cutting edge criminologists consolidate the most important aspects of sociology, psychology, anthropology, and biological theories to advance their comprehension of criminal behavior. Rational choice theory, psychological, biological, and strain theory are used to analyze the

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Luis Rodriguez’s deviance supports Differential Association Theory because he joined a gang, numerous amounts of rebellious acts, and committed crimes against people because of peer pressure or the people he associated himself with. The events that took place in his life can be explained by his association with different people. Always Running supports Differential Association Theory because Luis joined a gang because of the pressure and need to protect himself and his friends. Negative deviance isn’t a natural thing, depending on who you're associated with or influenced by then you'll learn the behavior you'll exhibit. Therefore, "criminal behavior is learned.."

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The Rizzuto family is an Italian-Canadian organized crime family based in Montreal, Quebec. The family has a multi-million-dollar international empire and are involved with many illegal activities including, “large-scale construction fraud, drug trafficking, extortion, bribery, stock manipulation, loansharking and money laundering (Nicaso, 2017. par. 1). There are many large players in this family, including the previous leader, Nicolo Rizzuto, and the current leader, Vito Rizzuto. One way to try and understand why this whole family is involved in crime, is to apply ideas from learning theories, such as Sutherland’s Differential Association theory, where it is thought that criminal behaviour is learned through social interactions (Lilly, Ball & Cullen, 2015, p .44).

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George and Lennie, two characters in Of Mice and Men, both deal with difficulties. It is not, however, the problem that one might imagine. Childhood buddies George and Lennie are on their own, caring for no one but themselves. Lennie’s mental disability means that George is always on his own, mentally and physically. Lennie has turned into a threat to their lives and everyone around them.

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The main example throughout the documentary was the “rotten pocket” example that is used to describe a corruption in the prescient where more than one officer is corrupt, and are cooperating to fulfill this illegal act. In the documentary, Michaels partner described how everyone, even up to the captain was corrupt and in on their ring. This is a big problem within police departments since other officers will lie to protect their own, instead of doing what is in the best interest of the station, and the criminal justice system. Many programs like the early intervention systems and the mixed approach to police accountability The main goal of these programs being implemented, is to protect the agency from double-crossing officers and protect the

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The differential association theory has become the most talked about learning theory of deviance. The theory focuses on how individuals can learn to become criminals. The theory does not have concern for why individuals become criminals. Criminology is the knowledge regarding crime and delinquency as a social issue.

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Sutherland’s theory of Differential Association takes a macro level analysis as to why people commit crimes and brings it to a micro level analysis. He concludes that looking at a multiple factor approach did not explain why crimes are committed. Instead he asks the question what one singular factor touches on these multilevel factors. Sutherland looked for the universal explanation as to why crimes are committed rather than looking at individual reasons. His theory seeks what has always been present in crime and what has not or better yet what mechanism or experiences correlate to the crimes committed.

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Ethics and the Evolution of Police Policing in this present day is defined as an individual or group of individual who prevent and detect crime within a community. Policing compares in many ways. They all attempt to provide services, keep the peace and reduce crime. Policing has evolved into something much more than what it used to be. Within this essay are the many different perspectives and how ethics were learned.

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Social learning theory and social bonding theory are two theories that may be compared and contrasted because they both overlap and differ. Although these theories have their similarities and differences, one theory may prove to be more convincing in terms of applying the theory to the understanding of crime and delinquency. Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association theory, which had nine propositions outlining the process by which individuals acquire attitudes favorable to criminal or delinquent behavior with the basic idea that people tend to associate with others in which they come into contact.

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Fifth, the specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable. Sixth, a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the law. Seventh, Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. Eighth, the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning. Lastly, while criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.

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For example those who follow the code of the street, that may mean beating someone up to make themselves feel more powerful, but they had to learn that from somewhere as they can not only learn things from their direct experiences but there is also a high chance that they have seen exposed to others that do the same exact thing. Differential association theory which is a strain of social learning theory, explains that criminal behaviour, and the specific techniques that one needs to know to commit crime are learned. This relates to the code of the street because those who abide by it are not only taught the violent or criminal behaviour but are also taught the motivating factors that back up the behaviour. All the residents that follow the street code do because that is what is they are surrounded with and according to the social learning theory, which is explains that crime is learned, they watch how others deal with things and use that as a model. It is a cognitive process in which one’s attitude and their surroundings merge in an ongoing conditioning theory.

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The Mafia and organized crime would be an example of deviance in society. Differential Association Theory and Social Structure sheds light on how individuals learn to become criminals, the conditions in social structures that lead to deviant behavior, and how both are similar. Members of the Mafia are influenced by their own set of norms and beliefs in their culture. Both, Differential Association Theory and Social Structure, are essential for a complete understanding of deviant behavior and why organized crime exists.

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Social process theory depends on the interaction between individuals and society as an explanation and is also known as interactionist perspective. This theory assumes that everyone has the potential to violate the law and that criminality is not an innate human characteristic but is instead a belief that criminal behavior is learned by interaction with others (Schmalleger, 2012). Social process feels the socialization process that occurs because of group membership is the main way through which learning occurs (Schmalleger, 2012). Social process theory views criminality as people’s interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society (Siegel, 2000). This theory feels that people from all areas have the potential

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One of the most analyzed theories in criminology today is the social learning theory. The social learning theory derives from the differential association theory by Dr. Edward Sutherland. The social learning theory of criminology says that individuals learn from the community around them. This happens in two ways by differential association and differential reinforcement. Differential association is the theory that individuals learn values and behaviors related with crime.

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The education includes how to commit crimes and all the rationalizations for doing so. Criminal behaviors are reinforced by hearing them referred to in positive terms. Respect for social norms such as following the law is held in contempt by the group. Two of the nine propositions that Sutherland came up with to explain the Differential Association theory was that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication and the principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups. These propositions are established in the movie Blow as follows.

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