ARTICLE REVIEW 2

DELA CERNA, Wally T.

MA PSY – Clinical Psychology
PSY201

Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory

by C. R. Jeffrey

Background
In this article, C.R. Jeffrey discussed criminal behaviors under the light of
learning theories. He used Sutherland’s Theory of Differential Associations as his
main theoretical background, and supported by other theories like the Operant
Behaviorism by B. F. Skinner, and even the experiment of Holtz and Azrin. In this
article, C. R. Jeffrey concluded that criminal behavior is learned behavior that happens
under the light of different aspects. The author had looked into different factors that
constitutes the criminal behavior of an individual, thus presses its’ functionality in
forming of criminal behavior as a learned behavior. C. R. Jeffrey gave focused on the
functionality of the reinforcement received from the consequences of the action, and
even to the people around the individual. He pressed the idea that criminal behavior is
maintained by its consequences, both material and social consequences. Lastly, C. R.
Jeffrey pressed the idea that that punishment, does not really eliminated the bad
behavior, or the criminal behavior, but sometimes it (punishment) can be reinforcing to
the individual, thus committing more criminal behavior. He finally, pressed the idea that
there are lots of things to consider in giving punishment, like the time it should be given,
the consistency, and even the consequences of it.

Review
This is a very interesting article, as it gave a very circular and a very wide view in
terms of understanding the criminal behavior of an individual. In this article, I’d found
several points that are note-worthy to mention and discuss.
1. Criminal behavior is a learned behavior. In the 1939 edition of Principle of
Criminology, written by the proponent of the theorist himself, Edwin Sutherland,
the basic thought of its nine (9) postulates were really crime is a learned
behavior. This postulate emphasizes the idea that this kind of behavior is not
inherited, meaning a father murderer will never have a child that will be also a
murderer; and, emphasizing the importance of learning, as a person that is not
trained in crime, does not invent criminal behavior. Furthermore, Sutherland also
emphasized that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other people in a
process of communication or interaction (Sutherland et al., 1992).
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2. Criminal behavior is best understood under the Theory of Differential

Associations combined with the Operant Behaviorism. C. R. Jeffrey
emphasized the idea that criminal behavior is maintained by the changes it
produces on the environment (operant conditioning) and to the associations to
the situations that the criminal behavior had appeared and been done (theory of
differential association).
3. Criminal behaviors are not just reinforced by the material and of the
consequences, but also humans play an important role to it. C. R. Jeffrey
stated that, human beings often act as social agents for reinforce such as food,
sex, gratification, employment, medical aid, housing, tips, entertainments, and
more (Jeffery, 1965). I agree to this matter, as we can see it really happens from
gangs. Verbal praises are used by some member to another member whenever
they had done something that contributes to the image of the gang, in this matter
the criminal activity. Also, in the article, it was emphasized that a person can
reinforce the criminal behavior of a person if that certain became a confederate
of the activity, or tried to fence the criminal. This is idea is same to as what
Filipinos will say “ginagatungan”.
4. Present conditions, and stimulus can be a factor of criminal behavior, even
there is no criminal behavior associations. Criminal or delinquent behaviors
elicited by an individual does not necessarily need to be maintained by material
things, positive consequences, or by social interaction, or simply by association;
it can also happen by differential reinforcement.
5. Punishment does not really mean to decrease the response, unless it is
administered at the right time and at the right manner. In the article, it was
emphasized that punishment is not the opposite of reinforcement, since the
withdrawal of the punishment results in an increase in the response that was
formerly punished. Thus, it was explained that the problem lies in the fact that
punishment is usually paired with a response that is strongly maintained that is
strongly maintained by other reinforcing stimuli, whereas the reinforced response
is not paired with other contingencies. So, it was mentioned that punishment
shall not be paired with any reinforces, and punishment must not be given
delayed.

With this all being said, I see two things in which this could be a great application:
(1) law making. Legislators can form more appropriate laws that will address the
criminal sentences of those who had offended the law; (2) this could help parents on
how they can properly discipline their child, in general.
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References
Jeffery, C. (1965). Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory. The Journal Of Criminal
Law, Criminology, And Police Science, 56(3), 294. https://doi.org/10.2307/1141238
Sutherland, E., Cressey, D., & Luckenbill, D. (1992). Principles of criminology. General
Hall.