What is learning theory? Learning theory was developed to help discover the reason why people commit crimes and the causes. Learning Theory has made a lasting impact on society and in the field of criminology. Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers were the first to explore this by exploring these ideas and notions even more in depth. Forming detailed theoretical ideas on criminology and how it’s portrayed. By looking at the different aspects and the importance of the Learning Theory and its application to deviance in cultural society. Akers describes this, “social learning is complementary to other sociological theories and could be used to integrate extant formulations to achieve more comprehensive explanations …show more content…
637). Social learning can be applied to multiple aspects of criminology and this is what makes learning theory an ideal theory to be researched and studied. Learning Theory has been around for some time, and was not an original theory to be researched. It originated from the search for an explanation to the causes of crime and choices made. Akers’ got the idea from a past heavily criticized theory known as differential association theory. The original criminologist to first research this was Sutherland, who stated, “the process by which persons experience these conflicting definitions about appropriate behavior. Thus, definitions favorable and unfavorable to delinquent or criminal behavior are learned through interaction in intimate personal groups” (Matsueda, 1982, p. 489). Delinquent criminal behavior is stemmed from the idea that interaction with others delinquent individuals and the said frequency duration, along with environment heavily contributes to an individual being delinquent. This theory was the start, the ground work for Akers to take and build upon to make a whole new theory. Learning theory uses new factors based upon old research to explain …show more content…
What is strain theory? Throughout history criminology,has used strain theory to explain and understand crime. Strain theory states that society may be pressuring citizens to commit crimes. Based on the work of Émile Durkheim, Strain Theories have been remodeled and improved upon by people such as Robert King Merton , Richard Cloward , Albert K. Cohen, and Robert Agnew, Lloyd Ohlin , Neil Smelser and Rosenfeld Steven, Messner and Richard. Strain may consist of either structural or individual. Structural refers to the society level which in turn trickles down to affect an individual on the basic level of how they measure his or her basic needs. If these basic needs are not met crime is likely to occur. If the individual feels that because of inadequate regulation his or her perception of opportunity may be unfairly afforded to some not all, this is structural. Individual refers to the suffering or life experiences of an individual and how they see ways to achieve their goals by locally accepted means. If goals of society grow to top priority an individual, they may feel that achieving them is