Howard Becker’s (1953) study of “using marijuana for pleasure” was one of the first to examine drug use from a social learning perspective. Becker hypothesized that a given behaviour is mediated through a sequence of social experiences. He interviewed dozens of marijuana users about their experiences with the drug, and concluded that it was necessary for new users to undergo a three stage process of social learning in order to enjoy marijuana use. Through social interaction with more experienced users, new users a) learned the appropriate technique for smoke marijuana, b) learned to identify the effects associated with the high and c) learned to perceive these effects as pleasurable. Becker (1953) believed individuals would not be motivated
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Becker’s (1953) findings support theories of social learning, including Sutherland’s differential association theory and Akers’ social learning theory.
Social learning theory posits that learning takes place within a social context (Williams & McShane 2014). Throughout the years, theorists such as Edwin Sutherland and Ron Akers have expanded on this notion. Sutherland developed differential association theory, which proposes learning takes place in social settings by associating with peers. Akers also made important contributions, as his social learning theory identifies social environment as the most important source of positive or negative reinforcement (Williams & McShane 2014). Becker’s sequential description of the stages into marijuana use parallels Sutherland’s and Akers’ treatment of social learning theory in a number of ways. This is most immediately …show more content…
This stage claims the new user "must learn to enjoy the effects he has learned to experience” (Becker 1953). The sensations produced by marijuana use are not necessarily pleasurable, however, the taste for the experience is socially acquired. In order for the experience to become pleasurable, the user must redefine sensations that may be initially disorienting, frightening and even unpleasant. According to Akers’ social learning theory, we learn by watching others receive positive or negative reinforcement for certain forms of behaviour, and subsequently imitate rewarded behaviours (Williams & McShane 2014). Thus, redefinition typically occurs by interacting with more experienced users who teach the novice to find pleasure in the experience. Becker (1953) cites an example of an individual who became a marijuana user despite an initially negative experience. The participant developed the habit because “My friends started, and consequently I started again. But I didn't have that same initial reaction” (Becker 1953). In this case, the learned deviance was strengthened by positive reinforcement as the participant was able to experience pleasurable effects when interacting with his friends. Social learning theory proposes that learning is a product of past and present experiences – in this case, the participant’s present experiences allowed him to redefine the sensations
Becker’s (1953) findings support theories of social learning, including Sutherland’s differential association theory and Akers’ social learning theory.
Social learning theory posits that learning takes place within a social context (Williams & McShane 2014). Throughout the years, theorists such as Edwin Sutherland and Ron Akers have expanded on this notion. Sutherland developed differential association theory, which proposes learning takes place in social settings by associating with peers. Akers also made important contributions, as his social learning theory identifies social environment as the most important source of positive or negative reinforcement (Williams & McShane 2014). Becker’s sequential description of the stages into marijuana use parallels Sutherland’s and Akers’ treatment of social learning theory in a number of ways. This is most immediately …show more content…
This stage claims the new user "must learn to enjoy the effects he has learned to experience” (Becker 1953). The sensations produced by marijuana use are not necessarily pleasurable, however, the taste for the experience is socially acquired. In order for the experience to become pleasurable, the user must redefine sensations that may be initially disorienting, frightening and even unpleasant. According to Akers’ social learning theory, we learn by watching others receive positive or negative reinforcement for certain forms of behaviour, and subsequently imitate rewarded behaviours (Williams & McShane 2014). Thus, redefinition typically occurs by interacting with more experienced users who teach the novice to find pleasure in the experience. Becker (1953) cites an example of an individual who became a marijuana user despite an initially negative experience. The participant developed the habit because “My friends started, and consequently I started again. But I didn't have that same initial reaction” (Becker 1953). In this case, the learned deviance was strengthened by positive reinforcement as the participant was able to experience pleasurable effects when interacting with his friends. Social learning theory proposes that learning is a product of past and present experiences – in this case, the participant’s present experiences allowed him to redefine the sensations