Amish: A Culture Worth Learning From Essay -- Amish Culture

Social process theory views criminality as a function of people's interactions with organizations institutions and processes in society. Social process theorists believe that children learn to commit crime by interacting with, and modeling the behaviors of others they admire or respect. Social process theory focuses on upbringing and socialization, which stems from parents, peers, or teachers (Siegel, 2011, p. 13-14). American psychologist B.F. Skinner 1904-1990, developed social process theory he studied behaviorism, which included responses to environmental stimuli and the controlled scientific study of response. This study was termed operant conditioning created through both social and non-social reinforcements. Most learning of criminal behavior occurs in social interactions with other people (B.F. Skinner). Skinners studies included the study of pigeons that helped develop the idea of operant conditioning and shaping of behavior. His study entailed making goals for pigeons, if the goal for the pigeon is to turn to the left, a reward is given for any movement to the left, the rewards are supposed to encourage the left turn. Skinner believed complicated tasks could be broken down in this way and taught until mastered. The main belief of Skinner is everything we do is because of punishment and reward (B.F. Skinner). Edwin Sutherland American criminologist 1883-1950 opposed dominant, biological and psychological explanations for crime. He believed criminal behavior is a product of learning through social interactions and peers influence behavior by social interaction. If a peer group is criminal, the individual will perceive this behavior as normal. Sutherla... ...ademic OneFile. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. Ordnung ord-nu. (2004). In Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/mwcollegiate/ordnung_ord_nu. Ronald L. Akers. (2010). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved December 04, 2010, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://ep.fmcc.edu:5149/EBchecked/topic/1340874/Ronald-L-Akers . Sachs, A. (2010). Management, Plain and Simple. Time, 175(15), Global 4. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Shactman, T. (2006). Rumspringa. New York: North Point Press. Siegel, L. J. (2011). Criminology: the core (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. The Amish: Massacre at the Amish school in Nickel Mines, PA. (n.d.). ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved December 4, 2010, from http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish3.htm