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Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory

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Part of the book series: The Plenum Series in Crime and Justice ((PSIC))

Abstract

One of the most popular theories of criminal behavior, especially among sociologists and social psychologists, is the notion that criminal behavior is learned behavior. The theory of differential association, put forth by Edwin H. Sutherland (1), is a learning theory which formulates the process as one whereby criminal behavior is learned in association with those who have criminal attitudes and values, as compared to associations with those who have noncriminal attitudes and values.

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References

  1. Sutherland Cressy, Principles of Criminology 74 (5th ed. 1955).

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  2. Cressey, Epidemiology and Individual Conduct, Pacific Soc. Rev. (Fall 1960) 47; The Theory of Differential Association, Social Problems (Summer, 1960) 47; Giaser, Criminality Theories and Behavioral Images, Am. J. Soc. (March, 1956) 433.

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  5. Goidiamond, “Perception,” in Bachrach, Experimental Foundations of Clinical Psychology 295 (1962).

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Jeffery, C.R. (1995). Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory. In: McCord, J., Laub, J.H. (eds) Contemporary Masters in Criminology. The Plenum Series in Crime and Justice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9829-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9829-6_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9831-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9829-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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