Social Learning and Social Structure: A General Theory of Crime and Deviance

The social learning theory of crime integrates Edwin H.Sutherland's diff erential association theory with behaviorallearning theory. It is a widely accepted and appliedapproaches to criminal and deviant behavior. However,it is also widely misinterpreted, misstated, and misapplied.

This is the fi rst single volume, in-depth, authoritativediscussion of the background, concepts, development,modifications, and empirical tests of social learningtheory. Akers begins with a personal account of Sutherland'sinvolvement in criminology and the origins of hisinfl uential perspective. He then traces the intellectualhistory of Sutherland's theory as well as social learningtheory, providing a comprehensive explanation of howeach theory approaches illegal behavior. Akers reviewsresearch on various correlates and predictors of crime anddelinquency that may be used as operational measures ofdifferential association, reinforcement, and other sociallearning concepts.

Akers proposes a new, integrated theory of sociallearning and social structure that links group diff erencesin crime to individual conduct. He concludes with acogent discussion of the implications of social learningtheory for criminology and public policy. Now availablein paperback, with a new introduction by the author, thisvolume will be invaluable to professionals and for use incourses in criminology and deviance.

Ronald L. Akers is professor of criminologyand sociology in the Department ofCriminology, Law and Society, Universityof Florida. He is the author of Drugs,Alcohol, and Society: Structure, Process,and Policy, Deviant Behavior: A SocialLearning Approach, and CriminologicalTheories: Introduction, Evaluation, andApplication.