THEORIES OF DEVIANCE - AN INTEGRATED APPROACH THROUGH LEARNING THEORY

• NCJ Number: 40235
• Author(s): C R JEFFERY
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 31 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY

Annotation

THE MAJOR PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO COMBINE THE BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR INTO ONE INTEGRATED THEORY.

Abstract

THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING THE MENTALISTIC INTROSPECTION, BEHAVIORISM, AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY PARADIGMS. THE IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN GENETICS AND PSYCHOBIOLOGY FOR BEHAVIORISM AND LEARNING THEORIES ARE PURSUED. LEARNING THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR SUCH AS 'INTERNALIZATION OF NORMS' GIVE NO MOTIVATIONAL REASONS FOR CONFORMITY OR DEVIANCE. THE AUTHOR THEORIZES THAT THE REENFORCING QUALITY OF A STIMULUS DEPENDS ON THE LIMBIC SYSTEM OF THE BRAIN, WHICH IN TURN DEPENDS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ON THE GENETIC ENDOWMENT OF THE ORGANISM. GENE INFLUENCE ON BEHAVIOR IS SEEN TO BE PERVASIVE BUT ALWAYS INDIRECT....MSP