The Social Learning Theory of Crime and Deviance

Abstract

Social learning theory is a general theory of criminal and deviant behaviors that has found consistent and robust empirical support for more than four decades (see Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990; Hirschi, 1969). The generality and validity of the theory has through those years become increasingly recognized. In a recent major compilation on the status of criminological theory, social learning theory along with control theories (Akers & Jensen, 2006; Akers & Sellers, 2009) and strain theories (Agnew, 1992, 2006) were placed as the “core” theories in the field (Cullen, Wright, & Blevins, 2006). Moreover, according to the latest survey of criminologists, social learning theory is the most frequently endorsed explanation of both minor delinquent and serious criminal behavior (Ellis, Johnathon, & Walsh et al., 2008).