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What Is The Social Learning Theory In Criminology?

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Social Learning Theory in criminology is the theory where a person learns to engage in crime from the observation of others that can be family, friends, or total strangers. The original version of the Social Learning Theory was introduced by Ronald Akers. He came up with the theory to explain what causes juvenile’s deviant behavior. This theory is very similar to Albert Bandura’s theory in psychology. Akers stated that juvenile learns to engage in any other activities that are exposed to them by others. The first exposure is usually through family, which has a large impact on what juvenile learn. Akers based his Social Learning Theory on Edwin Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory. The Differential Association Theory says that through

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