ABSTRACT
Social learning refers to a theory of human behaviour emphasizing social relationships. The theory addresses the acquisition and maintenance of and changes in criminal behaviour, as well as learning processes that inhibit criminal behaviour. The two traditions – psychological development of a social learning theory of human behaviour and sociological development of criminological theories emphasizing normal learning processes – proceeded rather independently until the mid-1960s. Ronald Akers (a sociological criminologist) teamed with Robert Burgess (a sociologist trained in operant theory) to modify Sutherland's principles using the terminology and principles of modern behaviourism. Akers has expanded his version of the theory to include both 'micro' and 'macro' issues in the form of a 'social structure-social learning theory (SSSL)'. When applications of versions of social learning to family treatment and juvenile offenders are considered (Gerald Patterson, Oregon Social Learning Center) the perspective gains even more support.
