Differential Reinforcement
Ronald Akers created an extension of Edward Sutherland's Differential Association Theory, called the Differential Reinforcement theory, in which three models of social learning are included?
1) Classical conditioning
2) Operant conditioning
3) Modeling and imitation
Describe neutralizing
Neutralizing - justifies and excuses the violation of the law or other norms. Through neutralizing, acts that are undesirable in any given situation are viewed as justified, excusable, necessary, all right, or not really bad after all
Who developed the explanation of the ‘gender gap’ in crime and what is it?
Moffit, vulnerability hypothesis, differential exposure hypothesis
I stole a book from the bookstore, however, when confronted I say the cashier must have rung me in improperly. Which technique of neutralization could this be?
Denial of responsibility
What are the 4 main concepts of differential reinforcement theory?
1. Differential association
2. Differential reinforcement
3 .Imitations
4. Definitions
Skyes and matza (1957) established five techniques of neutralization, what are the 5 techniques?
1. Denial of responsibility
2. Denial of injury
3. Denial of the victim
4. Appeal to higher loyalties
5. Condemnation of the condemners
What is the vulnerability hypothesis and differential exposure hypothesis?
The vulnerability hypothesis is the increased vulnerability of males due to difference in social support groups. Differential exposure is the increased exposure of males to delinquent risk factors due to less restrictive social controls.
There are people who believe that it is morally wrong to steal and that laws against theft should be obeyed but at the same time see little wrong with smoking marijuana and rationalize that its all right to violate laws against drug possession. What is this an example of?
This is an example of Specific definition
What is the difference between specific and general definitions?
General beliefs include religious and moral values that are favorable to conforming behavior and unfavorable to committing crime
Specific definitions orient the person to particular acts or series of acts
Would delinquents be more accepting OR less accepting of neutralizing statements (statements justifying that action is alright) when presented with scenarios that use neutralization than non-delinquents
Studies using techniques of neutralization has assumed that delinquents would be more accepting of neutralizing statements than non-delinquents when presented with scenarios that use neutralization.
How do peer support groups differ between genders and how does differential reinforcement apply to it?
Male support groups more hierarchical and competitive, female support group more empathetic. Male groups apply more peer pressure, more positive reinforcement towards antisocial behaviour, female groups less open to antisocial behaviour.
Ted knows that racial profiling is wrong, however, he commits racial profiling against a customer, however he says that his boss made him commit racial profiling. Which technique is this?
Appeal to higher loyalties
Considering the 4 main components of DRT that are a differential association, differential reinforcement, imitation, and definitions, how do they increase the likelihood for someone to commit deviant and criminal acts?
1. They differentially associate with others who commit, model, and support violations of social and legal norms
2. The violative behavior is differentially reinforced over behavior in conformity to the norm
3. They are more exposed to and observes more deviant than conforming models
4. Their own learned definitions are favorable toward committing the deviant acts
Reading 19 looked at gender-difference comparison between women and men in using the techniques of neutralization in corporate crime. They had four major findings. Do you think this statement is true or false: women have higher intentions to commit corporate crime through the techniques of neutralization than men for marketing and selling banned drugs.
False: men had more intention to commit corporate crime by agreeing to continue to market/sell banned drug than women because men/women use techniques of neutralization differently
What are the findings of the study and how can they be implemented to predict and reduce delinquency in males and females?
Learning methods for females and males are the same. Males have higher delinquency rates due to the two hypotheses. Males; mentor programs, encourage more sharing and breaking of traditional masculine stereotypes. Females; continue an emphasis on building social support groups, building bonds.
A group of friends goes to the club and a male gets groped and he wants to talk to his friends about it. His friends and him joke about it and dismiss it. What is this an example of?
Vulnerability hypothesis