Citation

Scheider MC, Florence JM. Deviant Behav. 2000; 21(3): 245.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/016396200266252

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Many criminological theories about individual violation can be broadly classified into two groups: (1) those that attempt to explain the violation of personally held conventional norms and values (normative violations) and (2) those that attempt to explain the following of deviant norms and values (cultural deviance). We argue that each set of theories focuses on a unique dependent variable, but that social learning is one example of a theory that explicitly integrates these dependent variables under one explanatory heading. This important difference in what theories are trying to explain has been downplayed in criminology, with potentially serious consequences. The failure to provide accurate, focused measures of the correct dependent variables may have produced empirical findings that are weaker than expected. This article takes a step toward rectifying this important problem. It presents a discussion of the different sets of theories and of the attempt by social learning theory to explain both of behavior; in addition, it spells out the implications for research of this difference.