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Summary AC 2.2 Individualistic theories of crime + AC 3.2
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Summary of all Individualistic theories of crime and slight evaluation of each
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AC 2.2 Individualistic theories Criminal theories of crimeIndividualistic theories
Learning theories
Behaviourism
Aggression can be learned from observing others behave in an aggressive
manner. Through a process known as ‘modelling’, we don’t just imitate any role-
model – they have to have a higher status than us.
Social Learning Theory (SLT)
Bandura’s (1963) Bobo doll experiment
A series of experiments involved exposing children to two different adult
models: an aggressive model and a non-aggressive one.
In the aggressive condition, adults were seen to kick and pummel the Bobo doll
and also hit it with a mallet and throw it in the air. After observing the adult’s
behaviour, the children would then be placed in a room without the model and
were observed to see if they would imitate such behaviour.
The experiment showed that children exposed to the aggressive condition were
more likely to imitate the observed aggressive behaviour. The children were even
able to improvise new ways to be aggressive towards the Bobo doll, such as, using
a toy gun to shoot it or throwing darts at it.
Children in the non-aggressive condition were far less aggressive towards the doll.
Case study
These questions were debated as a result of the murder of James Bulger by two ten-year old
boys: Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. They are said to have watched the film Childs Play 3
before the murder. The judge in this case said :
'It is not for me to pass judgement on their upbringing, but I suspect exposure to violent video
films may in part be an explanation.
In a follow-up study (1965), children were shown a film of an adult model being
verbally and physically aggressive towards an inflatable Bobo doll.
• Group 1: saw the model being rewarded with praise
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, AC 2.2 Individualistic theories Criminal theories of crime
• Group 2: saw the model being punished (told off)
• Group 3: control group (model was not rewarded or punished).
Later, they were left to play with the doll.
Findings:
Group 1: imitated the aggressive behaviours they had seen being rewarded (most
likely).
Group 2: were less likely to imitate aggressive behaviour Group 3: least likely also
imitated the model, though less so.
Hence, imitation of the modelled behaviour depends on the consequences
observed upon the role model.
3.2 Strength Weakness
Bandura takes account of the fact that Based on laboratory studies.
we are social beings, We learn from Laboratories are artificial settings
the experiences of others, not just and findings may not be valid for
from our own direct experience. real-life situations.
• Bandura shows that children who • The theory assumes that peoples
observed aggressive behaviour being behaviour is completely determined
rewarded, imitated that behaviour. by their learning experiences and
This shows the importance of role ignores their freedom of choice. This
models in learning deviant behaviour. also conflicts with legal views of
crime, which assume that we all have
free will to commit crime.
• Not all observed behaviour is easily
imitated. We might see a film in
which a safecracker is rewarded with
the ‘loot’, but we lack the skills to
imitate the behaviour.
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