Which theory emphasizes that criminal behavior can be influenced by the environment and social learning?

• A. Biological Theory
• B. Social Learning Theory
• C. Rational Choice Theory
• D. Control Theory

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how behavior, including crime, can be shaped by the environment and by learning from others. Social Learning Theory holds that people learn not only from personal experience but by observing others, modeling what they see, and receiving reinforcement or punishment for those behaviors. Through family, peers, and media, individuals pick up attitudes, techniques, and patterns—criminal or otherwise—by imitation and the rewards or sanctions that follow those actions. This makes the surrounding social context a powerful influence on whether someone adopts or rejects criminal behavior. In contrast, a Biological Theory focuses on genetics or physiology, Rational Choice Theory centers on weighing costs and benefits before acting, and Control Theory emphasizes how bonds and constraints in society deter behavior rather than highlighting learning through social observation.