Analysis and Review of the Social Learning Theory - Coursework Example

? Sociology Grade 26 November, Social learning theory: The learning theory is traceable in the 1800 and varies among sociologists from its popularity. The social learning theory has its roots in Albert Bandura’s work proposing that social learning occurs in four stages of imitation; close contact, imitation of superior people, understanding of concepts and copying role model behavior. Social learning implies that a combination of psychological and environmental (social) aspects influence behavior. Bandura’s social learning theory argues that human beings learn from one another through observation, imitation and modeling (Bandura, 1977). The social learning theory has been developed by many sociologists other than Albert Bandura. Different theorists like Gabriel Tarde in 1912 used laws of imitation to emphasize the idea of social learning (Pfohl 1994). The roots of leaning perspective can be traced to his era. Tarde’s laws are; close contact, imitation of superiors and insertion. Edwin Sutherland in 1940 used Tarde’s laws of close contact and imitation of superiors to develop his theory of differential association. The idea of culture faction struggling to determine who has the power and ability to define deviance in a society is dominant in Sutherland’s work. The differential association theory argues that individuals through interactions with each other learn the values, techniques attitude and motive for criminal behavior (pfohl 1994). Sutherland’s theory is summarized in nine points. It says that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with other people in the process of communication. The behaviors are learned mostly from intimate groups. Techniques of the crime are learnt and the motives are derived from the definition of breaking the law versus being compliant to the law. Sutherland’s perspective was criticized and deemed too shallow and simple for the world of sociology or criminology. The theory was highly criticized as hard to test and difficult to measure. Ronald Aker and Robert Burgess developed a new theory; Differential Association Reinforcement theory of criminal behavior (Burgess & Akers 1966). They did a re-evaluation of Sutherland’s theory using behaviorism. They maintained that criminal behavior can even be reinforced by non-social factors after incorporating psychological principles of operant conditioning. Ronald Akers social learning theory of crime can be applied in many situations of life. It is best applicable in groups where reinforcement is achieved (Burgess &Akers 1966). The theory is applicable in any type of crime that comes with some gain. For instance, if trough crime pleasure is attained, if there is material gain or positive attention from members of the same group, crime will continue to be committed. Behavior is mostly learnt from others and then reinforced. Discontinuation or continuation of the deviant behavior is determined by the level of positive reinforcement, which is, not necessarily social reinforcement. Ronald Akers key ideas: This paper will look at the applicability of Ronald Akers social learning theory in explaining the learning that takes place in Heyl’s “The Madam as Teacher,” and Becker’s “Becoming a Marijuana User” articles. Heyl’s article, the madam as a teacher, is about the training of house prostitutes. The training is done by Ann, the joint owner, to novices who earn money for themselves and Ann too (Heyl, 1977). Becker’s article looks at how people become Marijuana users and goes through people’s first experience until they get used to it (Becker, 1953). A professional prostitute can always pick out a person who first taught her the techniques of prostitution. In the case of Ann, she is the one who trains her novices into being professional house prostitutes. Ann trains her novices because lack of skills will cost her clients and money. For the beginners, she spends some time in teaching physical and psychological techniques to be used by the house prostitutes (Heyl, 1977). This is explained by Akers social learning theory which incorporates psychological principles of operant conditioning. Operant behavior involves conditioning. According to Akers, the principle part of learning occurs in a group (Burgess &Akers 1966). Ann trains the turn-outs in groups of fourteen different novices. Akers theory of social learning suggests that behavior can be learnt through observation, and it is then reinforced. Ann’s work outs observe her demonstrating positions designed to provide the women’s maximum comfort and protection during different sexual acts (Heyl, 1977). The novices observe, learn and put it into practice when with the clients. Reinforcement is done when the novices become professionals and can make more money because of applying various techniques. Criminal behavior, according to Sutherland is learnt in a nonsocial situation which is both discriminative and reinforcing. Akers argues that criminal behavior occur due to both social reinforcement and nonsocial reinforcement. The persons using marijuana may not receive social reinforcement, but they receive reinforcement because of the pleasure they get from it. Becker (1953) argues that Marijuana using is not socially reinforced since it is seen as deviant behavior, but, the feeling a person derives from causes reinforcement. This analysis was made after fifty interviews with Marijuana users. Most first time experiences for Marijuana users according to Becker’s analysis are nasty. The second attempt one may get high, and this reinforces a person to continue using Marijuana despite the behavior being a deviance act. Social reinforcement is also present to these Marijuana users because, they are taught by their peers how to smoke the Marijuana in the correct way. “…suck it, you know, draw in and hold it in your lungs until….” Such instructions from the peers make the behavior be reinforced since a person want to achieve what others achieve. Akers agree with Sutherland fourth proposition that learning of criminal behavior is a function of available, effective, reinforcing and existing reinforcement contingencies. He adds that in the existence of reinforcement value by stimuli, motivation is needed (Burgess & Akers, 1966). Ann in the training of prostitutes has to motivate them in order for reinforcement to be achieved. She goes ahead to give her personal story to the novices about her mistakes in the past and how she had to learn the hard way. Because of undercharging clients, she was heavily and mercilessly punished making her learn the hard way. She tells her turn-outs that she is training them for them to learn the easy way. This way she motivates them into learning the techniques, since they are doing it the easy way. Marijuana users experience nothing, or they do not even realize they are high until, they are explained by their colleagues how one gets high. This acts as motivation, and many try another time in order to get the feeling got by other people (Becker 1953). Akers take issues with Sutherland’s notion that criminal behavior is reinforced by over definition of the behavior. He argues that criminal behavior is prevalent because of the amount of reinforcement received. In line with Becker’s article of Marijuana users, continuous use of marijuana is caused by the pleasure that a person receives. Becker argues that, if nothing happens when one smokes Marijuana, a connection with the drug as an object which can give pleasure is not made and that use will therefore, stop (Becker, 1953). In training the prostitutes, Ann increases her earning and builds a clientele base. If, her training does not produce professionals it is her loss. This loss is makes the training to stop, and most house madams prefer hiring professionals instead of novices to avoid the cost of training them. Akers theory of social learning is reflected in both cases where, learning social behavior, which is deviant, the amount of reinforcement determines the continuous of the behavior or the extinction. Social learning theories in relation to the training of house prostitutes and Marijuana users: Bandura’s social learning theory argues that a person learns through observation, imitation and modeling. In the two articles, the prostitutes learn from Ann. They observe her behavior, imitate it and finally put it into practice (Bandura, 1977). Tarde’s laws of close contact, imitation of superiors and insertion are similar to Bandura’s concept. Marijuana users, when put in line with these concepts, fit perfectly. The users at first observe their peers who use it. They imitate the instructions on how to pull it, not like cigarettes. They later learn how to feel high and finally they adopt the practice. Sutherland’s concepts are incorporated by Akers and modified to fit in the social learning theory of crime. Conclusion: In Ronald Akers social learning theory of crime, it is apparent that criminal or deviant behaviors are learnt from observing other people engaging in the criminal behavior. The definition the crime is given and the amount of reinforcement got further encourages the person to perform the behavior. Akers perspective encompasses both the social and nonsocial aspects in the reinforcement process unlike that of Sutherland which only focuses on the social aspects only. For example, the prostitutes are given the name, professional hustlers, which give the deviant behavior an acceptance among the prostitutes. References Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. New York: General Learning Press. Becker S. (1953). Becoming a Marihuana User. The American Journal of Sociology, 59 (3):235- 242. Burgess, R., &Akers R. 1966. A Differential Association-Reinforcement Theory of Criminal Behavior. Social Problems, 14 (2): 128-147. Heyl S. B.(1977). The Madam Teacher: The Training of House Prostitutes. Social Problems, 24 (5): 545-555. Pfohl, S.  (1994). Images of Deviance and Social Control: A Sociological Historical Approach, 2ed.  New York:  McGraw-Hill, Inc. Read More