ABSTRACT
Social learning theory (SLT) consists of four “core theoretical elements”: differential association, definitions of crime or conformity, differential reinforcement and imitation. Each of these “elements” is composed of several hypotheses. Furthermore, relationships of variables of these hypotheses with social structural variables are addressed.
When SLT is compared with rational choice theory (RCT) it is first shown how differential reinforcement is related to RCT: it refers to utilities and subjective probabilities (see Figure 7.5.2). The hypothesis of differential association consists of several hpyotheses. RCT is only consistent with the hypothesis that criminal “role models” provide incentives for crime. This means that matching the respective persons’ behavior leads to expectations of rewards if crime is committed. But this is only one type of reward for criminal action. In regard to the definitions hypothesis, attitudes and “orientations” are not relevant for crime according to RCT, only goals have effects which can be modeled with RCT. In regard to imitations, work in RCT about the critical mass and the spread of behavior go beyond the work on imitation mentioned in SLT.
Although there are similarities between SLT and RCT the latter is criticized. The critique largely attacks the narrow version and falsely argues that the wide version is identical with all criminological theory (Chapter 4).
