Modeling theory and behavioral reinforcement in criminal psychology

Psychological Theories of Crime

Similarities between Gabriel Tarde's and Albert Bandura's versions of modeling theory

They both have processes where one step leads to the other i.e. In Gabriel's theory starts from invention to imitation and lastly to opposition while Bandura's theory starts from attention to retention to production and lastly to motivation.

Behavior theory

Positive Reinforcement / Reward; It's the process by which behavior is strengthened, if a behavior is followed closely by a motivating stimulus and this result into an increase in the future frequency of that behavior (Center for Autism and Related Behavior, 2011). It's the addition of a stimulus following an event that serves as reinforcement. For instance, a child performs well in the examination and the parent rewards him by buying an item he has longed for.

Negative reinforcement or reward; it is the removal of a stimulus following an event that is not desirable so as to serve as a negative motivation to the habit or event. For instance a child performs poorly in examination and the parent decides to withdraw his promise to take the child to the zoo during the holiday.

Positive punishment; it is a process by which stimulus is immediately added after a specific behavior so that future frequency of the behavior is decreased. A good example is of a pick pocket is taken to prison and subjected to learning of a given artwork so that when he comes out of prison he can make his own money through the artwork learned.

Negative punishment; it is a process by which stimulus is removed immediately after a given behavior so that future frequency of that behavior is decreased. Example is when a student performs poorly in class and the parent decides to cut down the student pocket money, the pocket money acts as the stimulant that has been removed hence a negative punishment.

The most effective behavior theory is positive punishment. This is because it helps in two different perspectives, first it helps rectify the undesired behavior of a person and again something new is instilled in the involved person that helps improve and completely change his undesired behavior.

Self-control

It is the ability to control ones emotional behavior and desires in order to obtain some reward later, and is the capacity of efficient management to the future. It is sometimes referred to as self-regulation.

Types of self-control

Mental self-control; this is exercised in the realm of the mind and it leads to mental discipline. Mental control does not work in isolation as at times it is coupled with physical control. For example, when dieting, the mind has to keep on repeating the fact that the body