Learning Theory And Control Theories Essay

Most social process theories explain criminal activity as a learned behavior from family and peers. There theories, as explained in Criminological Theory, “examine how individuals interact with other individuals and groups and how the learning takes place in these interactions leads to prosperity of criminal activity” (Tibbetts 2015). These theories are split into two main sections of learning theories and control theories. Learning theories are theories that tend to, “emphasize the social processes of how and why individuals learn criminal behavior” (Tibbetts 2015). It puts a focus on peers and family member, who you have day-to-day interactions with, who have an influence on behavior of both a positive and a negative nature. Control theories take a slightly different approach of covering factors that prevent certain deviant behaviors. It also claims that, “all individuals have natural tendencies to commit selfish, antisocial, and even criminal behavior” (Tibbetts 2015). Control Theory is still evolving with improvements and new theories still emerging. Within each of these there are more numerous theories that break down and explain each more in depth or it builds on an older version of that theory. (if needed explain several different theories) Walter Reckless came up with a control theory known …show more content…
The first circle is the outermost consists of social pressures , known as pushes, and pulls. The second circle is the outer controls such as parents and schools. The third are the internal controls. The fourth circle, “symbolizes a persons individual-level pushes to commit crime, such as predispositions or personality traits that are lined to crimes” (Tibbetts 2015). These individual pushes can be seen in mental illness, anger management issues, or other similar afflictions. These circles effect all of us in various ways as no two people or environments are always completely