Who is a proponent of social learning theory in criminology?

• A. Eysenck
• B. Piaget
• C. Skinner
• D. Bandura

Answer: (D)

Social learning theory in criminology explains that people learn criminal behavior by watching others and imitating them, especially when the observed actions appear rewarding or unpunished. The key idea is that learning occurs not only through direct experience but also through observing role models, peers, and media, with cognitive processes shaping whether the observed behavior is adopted.

Bandura is the proponent of this theory, having highlighted observational learning, modeling, and vicarious reinforcement as central mechanisms. He also introduces concepts like self-efficacy, which explains how belief in one’s ability to perform a behavior affects whether it is learned and carried out. In criminology, this framework helps explain how individuals pick up criminal techniques and norms by observing those around them and anticipating rewards or punishments.

The other thinkers linked to different approaches—Eysenck with personality trait theories of crime, Piaget with cognitive development, and Skinner with operant conditioning focusing on direct reinforcement—do not foreground social observation and modeling in the way Bandura does.