FOUNDATIONS OF CRIMINOLOGY

Foundations of Criminology



Foundations of Criminology

Introduction

Drunk driving increased in the era of 1980s and state has used different measures in order to deter the drunk driving of the individuals. The researchers provided insight to the issue, which stated that the government needed to understand the social psychology of the individuals who are chronic drunk drivers. The social learning theory states that, various methods exist in the society due to which the propensity for criminal activities is increased or decreased. It depends on the motives and orientations of crimes, which are either learned or reinforced, with the passage of time (Winfree et al, 2001, p. 330). The theory selected to describe the crime of drunk driving is social learning theory. Concepts of social learning theory, which include Differential Association, Definitions, Differential Association and Imitation, are used to explain the crime of drunk driving.

Discussion

Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory suggests that the deterrence induces the potential for criminal activities in the future and deterrence includes the punishment. Self-control is a natural ability of an individual, which deteriorates if there are no measures adopted to control it. The level of self-control, which a person possesses, is developed at the younger stage when other essential information for living is provided by mother and father. Social Learning theory is the combination of differential association theory and approach to behavioural modification or operant conditioning. There are four key elements of social learning theory, which clearly explains the reasons for the behaviour of lawlessness and violations of rules (Winfree et al, 2001, p. 330). Following are the categories if Social Learning Theory. Only Social learning theory has been used in order assess the explanation of the given crime of drunk and driving.

Concepts of Social Learning Theory

Differential Association

Differential association is theory falls under the social learning theory, which states that the person who is involved in illegal crimes is mainly due to the exposure obtained from the peer groups or the people around him. There are two groups, which provide exposure, one is direct, and the other is indirect. When an individual is exposed to these groups there several definitions of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour comes to the individual regarding the socially acceptable behaviour of an individual. These models may become a reference for reproduce the behaviour. The association are broken down into primary groups, which includes the immediate family members, friends and relatives. Secondary groups include the wider range of people with whom and individual interacts on the daily basis. Secondary groups involve people who are a t a distant inform an individual, but the interaction from these groups provides the reference for developing social and moral values within an individual. The duration of time spent and nature of contact with the individual provides a pivotal role in developing the behaviours among the individual (Wiesner et al, 2003, p. 320). Time spent with friends or father who boasted about their experiences or drunken driving and will be the driving force in an individual to ...