Essay on Social Learning Theory in Criminal Causation

What is “social learning theory in criminal causation?” Experiencing social learning happens throughout peoples entire lives. For instance someone in their childhood would be experiencing different forms of abuse from their parents. A child being abused or witnessing abuse can be detrimental. Children do not fully understand right from wrong and can absorb the skills of abuse from their abuser. People learn from the environment they’re living in, it can cause them to make decisions that they wouldn’t make if they weren’t surrounded by it.  “Social learning occurs when individuals predominantly choose to learn from a prestigious member of their group”(Brand, 2021, p. 1). Social learning theory is the most plausible causation for crime since most crimes occur because of the perpetrators affiliation with their surroundings. Another example would be an adolescent living in a bad neighborhood and having friends that commit crimes. Majority of adolescents would join in with their friends because they want to fit in. Young adults and older people committing crimes only becomes the social learning theory if their environment is impacted, this would include living in a bad area or being exposed to criminal activity. When young adults commit crimes they are not children and know between right and wrong. Environmental factors have a significant impact on how people make their everyday decisions. People make subconscious decisions based on how they grew up and who they surround themselves with. 

Additionally biological theories used in criminology have a truth to them. “Biological theories have focused on body type, genetic factors, studies of twins to differentiate between genetic and social factors, and studies of chromosome variation” (Lincoln, 1985, p.1). A person who has defects in their genes will react differently than someone who does not. Each person's brain is wired to think differently and react differently to events present in their life.  “Factors such as low intelligence, poor diet, impulsivity, hyperactivity, hormones, and environmental pollutants may affect a person's biological propensity”(Ministry of Justice, 2009). Criminals in some cases have an unalike chemical makeup in their brain, this can cause them to act out and commit crimes.  “That’s not to say that criminals are born that way, just that biological factors have been shown to increase the likelihood that we might commit criminal acts”(Walden University pg. 3). Our genes determine the way we react and make decisions to certain outcomes, without the proper senses, we are not able to do that. There are social factors that are connected to biological factors. Some examples of social factors would be your family, friends, even education. Then there are economic factors which “include relative wealth (disparity), poverty (deprivation), and unemployment” (Ministry of Justice, p.2). An example would be a homeless person, they tend to commit “nonviolent “nuisance offenses,” such as panhandling or subway jumping”(American Psychological Association, pg.1). Biological theories are based on many different factors, dealing with how a person reacts and handles situations as well as why the person made the decision to commit a crime.  

Inner-city crime and gang violence I do believe have the same crimal theories as to understanding the act of terrorism. Both criminal acts involve populated areas, as well as most gangs and terrorism groups will recruit people to join them. A regular citizen isn’t just put into a gang or terrorist group, they had to have been in that environment from the beginning. The criminal causation would be social learning theory because of the environment. Perpetrators arrested for gang violence or terrorism have most likely grew up only knowing violence. There is another criminal causation theory called the anomie theory. “It is the condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values or from lack of purpose or ideals''(Britannica Editors). For inner-city crime there are cases where the anomie theory best fits criminal causation. The perpetrator may have lost their job or feels they don’t have a purpose anymore. In most cases social learning theory is the main cause. Criminals tend to learn from their surroundings and who they grew up with. Perpetrators who have friends or family in terrorist or gang groups can cause them to commit crimes. 

A recent case dealing with drug trafficking by a powerful gang called the “Bedford Latin Kings” occurred on September 8, 2021. Tanairy Ruiz a thirty-four year old man “pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base” (Department of Justice, pg. 2). Tanairy Ruiz has an affiliation with the “Bedford Latin Kings” by using trap houses to manufacture the cocaine. The crime committed was drug trafficking and was considered a violent crime. 

The causation of crime in my opinion is social learning theory. I got this conclusion by looking at gang related activity and it being normally based in the inner-city. A significantly populated area where gang criminal activity is substantial, brings the criminal causation to social learning theory. Social learning theory focuses on the person's environment and social life. People tend to affiliate themselves with people they’re close with, causing people to make decisions they may not normally. Tanairy Ruiz could have had family or even friends in the “Bedford Latin Kings” and that being his environment he joined them. People learn from a young age by their surroundings what is right and wrong, in some people’s world committing crimes is the only thing they know. If Tanairy Ruiz as well as other gang violence perpetrators  grew up in the inner-city dealing with gang violence and drugs, it can be the cause of making unlawful decisions. 

Crime is more influenced by innate personality and personal choice. I do believe that there are some cases where the perpetrator could have been influenced by environmental factors. Most people even being impacted by their environment still have morals and have a choice in the matter. Crime is a mental decision and is made based on many factors but most perpetrators make the decision lucidly and subconsciously. Criminal acts have many criminal causation theories but in most cases it comes down to the person who made the choice willingly.