SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY OF DELINQUENCY DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS

• NCJ Number: 60572
• Author(s): S VEXLER; D HUDSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER INTEGRATES THREE THEORIES EXPLAINING DELINQUENCY (PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, MODELING, AND DELINQUENCY DRIFT) AND OFFERS INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THEM.

Abstract

AN INTERVENTION MODEL BASED ON SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY IS ADVOCATED. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE, THIS MODEL IS BASED ON COMMON SENSE AND CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY PARAPROFESSIONALS OR THOSE WITH MINIMAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS SHOULD BE AIMED AT GENERALIZATION OF SKILLS SO THAT YOUTH CAN MAINTAIN GOOD BEHAVIOR EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN STRUCTURED SETTINGS. SUPPORT FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR IS ENSURED WHEN THERE ARE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS PRESENT IN THE SUPERVISED SETTING TO ALLOW YOUTH TO SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS, BE REINFORCED WHEN THEY SUCCEED, AND GET FEEDBACK WHEN THEY FAIL. PEER PRESSURE REINFORCING GOOD BEHAVIOR IS ENCOURAGED, AND MIDDLE CLASS VALUES ARE SEEN AS A NORM FOR JUDGING BEHAVIOR. (RFC)