What do social learning theories suggest about learning behaviors?

Social learning theories propose that behaviors, including criminal behaviors, are acquired through social interactions and the environment, much like any other human behavior. This perspective emphasizes that individuals learn by observing others, especially through models such as family members, peers, and media representations. Social learning involves processes such as imitation, reinforcement, and the understanding of social norms, which highlight the influence of social context and relationships in forming behaviors.

In contrast, the notion that behaviors are learned solely in institutional settings lacks the broader applicability of social learning, which encompasses learning in everyday environments. The idea that only negative behaviors are learned socially overlooks the range of positive behaviors that can also be acquired through social interaction. Lastly, the concept of learning occurring in isolation contradicts social learning theory’s core principle that social interactions and the surrounding environment play crucial roles in the learning process. Therefore, the assertion that criminal behaviors are learned like other human behaviors is aligned with the tenets of social learning theories.