ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that rational choice theory may be enriched by its links with social learning theory generally, and differential association in particular. Both behavionsts and cognitive theorists accept that associations are a key dynamic in learning. Sutherland's differential association theory was formulated in terms that appear to be primarily cognitive but that in fact can accommodate the approaches of each of these main schools of learning theory. Gun control is thus an integral aspect of situational crime prevention. The West Australian research focused upon the decision-making processes of 123 violent offenders confined in the prison system at the time of the survey. Particular attention will be given to the subsample of 37 robbers, of whom 15 were gun robbers. Rational choice theory is particularly concerned with crime analysis from the point of view of crime prevention. This can best be done by melding social learning theory research techniques with the rational choice approach.
