To prepare for this Discussion:
• Review Chapter 4 in the course text, Criminal Behavior: A Psychosocial Approach, paying particular attention to how social learning theory attempts to explain criminal behavior.
• Review the online article, "The Psychology of Criminal Conduct and Principles of Effective Prevention and Rehabilitation." Think about how the psychology of criminal conduct (PCC) might be applied to criminal behavior.
With these thoughts in mind:
Analysis of whether or not the psychology of criminal conduct (PCC) is useful for understanding and explaining criminal behavior. Justify your position using specific examples and concepts.
Note: Put "useful" or "not useful" in the first line of your post. You will be asked to respond to a colleague who argued the opposite position as you did.
READ!!!!
• SOCIAL LEARNING &
• http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/forum/e071/071j_e.pdf
To prepare for this assignment:
• Review Chapter 4 in the course text, Criminal Behavior: A Psychosocial Approach. Reflect on how learning theory and particularly social learning theory attempt to explain crime and criminal behavior.
• Review the course media, "Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior." Consider the learning theories that Dr. Kubrin discusses and how they each attempt to explain crime and criminal behavior. Also consider the challenges of applying these theories.
• Select two crimes to which learning theory may be applied and reflect on how the general principles of learning theory may apply to them.
• Reflect on which particular learning theory may best explain each crime you selected, and why.
• Consider whether or not learning theory accounts for criminal behavior, and why or why not.
The assignment (2 pages):
• Briefly describe the crimes you selected.
• Explain each crime by applying a specific learning theory, using a different theory for each.
• Explain how the principles of learning theory may be used to account for each crime.
Explain whether or not you think learning theory accounts for criminal behavior in general and why or why not, using specific examples.